Tigers hold off late surge from Central QB Armani White for 36-17 Win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Week seven of Alabama high school football was underway this evening as the Central Falcons traveled to Bessemer to take on the Bessemer City Tigers in a Class 5A, Region 3 matchup. From start to finish, this game was all Tigers, with quarterback Vernon Slaughter leading the hometown team to a 36-17 victory.

The Tigers won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, giving Central the ball to start the game. However, nothing came of the Falcons' first offensive drive after they turned the ball over on downs. Slaughter got the Tigers off to a hot start, driving them downfield before Lamarrion Gooden capped off the drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown. Central was held scoreless in the first quarter.

The start of the second quarter was not what the Falcons wanted, as Slaughter threw a dot to Razariuss Horn from six yards out just eight seconds into the period. With the Tigers up by two scores, Central's Armani White tried to get points on the board, but the Falcons were forced to punt on the following drive until a facemask penalty against the Tigers' defense gave White another chance on the field. The Falcons' offense ultimately settled for three points after a 24-yard field goal from Ben Riches.

Bessemer City followed the Falcons' first points of the game by driving down the field with runs from Chase Walker and Triston Davis. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Gooden found the end zone for six. The extra-point attempt was no good, putting Bessemer City up 20-3. On their last chance before the half to get points, White launched a pass into the end zone, which was picked off by Chenyis Wilson-Fuller to close the half.

Central head coach Demarrio Pippen said his message at halftime was to stop inflicting damage on themselves.

"The biggest thing, man, is eliminating self-inflicted wounds," he said. "We got 1-2-3-4-5-6 penalties and two turnovers. So that's like a huge deal, especially against a team like this—you can't give them anything."

Bessemer City ended its first drive of the second half with a 29-yard field goal by Zayden Martinez right down the middle. Now down three scores, the Falcons were trying to stay alive in the game until a fumbled snap by White was recovered by Braylon Ellington for the Tigers' defense. Bessemer City's offense drove right back down the field and found the end zone again, putting the Tigers up 30-3.

When all hope seemed lost, White connected with Jarvis Woods on back-to-back plays to set up first-and-goal, taking it in himself for the Falcons' first touchdown of the game. The momentum didn't last long, however, as just a few plays later, Slaughter launched a pass to Walker for a 67-yard touchdown. By the fourth quarter, the Tigers had pulled most of their starters, allowing the Falcons to score once more right before time expired on a 5-yard pass from White to Tra'Von Hall.

Central Stats:

• Armani White (QB): 12/24, 213 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 10 CAR, 77 YDS, 1 TD
• Jarvis Woods (WR): 4 REC, 99 YDS
• Travon Hall (WR): 3 REC, 55 YDS, 1 TD

Bessemer City Stats:

• Vernon Slaughter (QB): 9/16, 226 YDS, 2 TD
• Chase Walker (WR): 3 REC, 99 YDS, 1 TD
• Triston Davis (#8): 3 REC, 83 YDS

Central falls in Class 5A, Region 3 play, putting its playoff position in jeopardy. The Falcons will host their final home game of the regular season against Hueytown.

With the victory, Bessemer City stays in strong playoff contention and will travel to face the Northridge Jaguars next.