Chilton County High School’s defense pitched a shut out, and senior quarterback Anthony Chavez passed for 267 yards and four touchdowns, in a 33-0 win over rival Jemison on Thursday.

Unofficially, the Tigers (1-1) held the Panthers (1-1) to 0 total yards in the first half and 42 yards overall, while amassing 356 yards of their own, most coming through the air.

The CCHS win avenges last season’s double-overtime loss and keeps Jemison from winning two in a row in the series since 2003, when the Panthers won their sixth straight.

First-year CCHS coach Brian Bradford won in his first try against the school’s biggest rival.

The win was especially welcome following last week’s 1-point loss at Sylacauga.

“We grew up a lot because we’ve had a lot of ninth and 10th graders playing,” Bradford said. “That last game, we were just nervous, just not understanding the speed of football. They sold out for us tonight.”

On its second possession of the game, and having already converted a third-and-10 for a first down, Chilton found itself facing a fourth-and-16 from Jemison’s 21-yard line.

Keishun White used a double move to get behind the JHS defender, and Chavez fired a strike to White in the end zone for the first score of the game, with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Chavez’s point-after made the score 7-0.

Chavez completed 15 of 25 pass attempts.

On its next possession, in the second quarter, Chavez connected with Austin Chandler from 28 yards out, with the CCHS receiver again using a double move.

The point-after wasn’t converted, but the Tigers led 13-0.

With Jemison unable to muster any offense, CCHS took a 19-0 lead with 1:54 left in the first half when Chavez passed to Cade Hatch for a 9-yard touchdown that saw Hatch break tackle and then stretch the ball across the goal line before being brought down.

The Tigers had sacked the Jemison quarterback 10 times by halftime, as the Panthers had moved backward as often as they had forward.

Jemison’s Jonathan McCary broke up a pass on third down during Chilton’s first possession of the second half, forcing a punt.

Then the Panthers found as much of an offensive rhythm as they would enjoy all night, picking up a couple of first downs on tough runs until Tyler Henderson recovered a fumble to kill the drive.

With time winding down in the third quarter, Chavez passed to White, who beat one defender on his route, put a move on another defender and outran everyone to the end zone, 72 yards down the field.

Colby Barren added the point-after even following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that backed up the effort.

Keandre Binion stopped Jemison’s next possession with an interception, and then White found the end zone from 24 yards out. With Barren’s extra point, the score came to its final tally of 33-0.

White was the team’s leading rusher with 38 yards on three carries.

White caught five passes for 109 yards, while Hatch caught five passes for 98 yards.

“Jemison has a great football team, a great defense,” Bradford said in praising the play of his offensive line. “They were bringing pressure from everywhere, and they stood in there and took the pressure because we threw the ball more than we probably ever have before. They did a good job of holding that and giving us time.”

Jemison’s Eric Evans carried eight times for 28 yards.

Both teams get into region play next week, as Chilton County visits Pell City and Jemison hosts Dallas County.

Bradford said the win should help his team gain confidence going into the heart of the schedule.

“Wins always help,” he said. “Winning breeds winning.”

Editor’s note: Brandon Sumrall contributed to this report.