By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

Senior night for the Chilton County Tigers did not exactly go as planned on Friday, as the visiting Booker T. Washington Golden Eagles spoiled the home ender by beating the Tigers 50-33.

The Tigers found themselves in an early hole as the Eagles wasted no time in getting on the board by taking the opening drive 60 yards for a score, as Joseph Graham went in from 41 yards out to put the Eagles up 6-0.

The Tigers answered the Eagles scoring drive with one of their own as Kendall Davis capped off a 64-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to tie the game at six apiece.

Brian Mose ended the Golden Eagles’ next possession with a 3-yard scoring drive to put Booker T. up 12-6, but again the Tigers answered as Davis found the end zone with an 8-yard touchdown run and with the PAT, the Tigers took a 13-12 lead.

The Eagles looked poised to make it three-for-three on the night but a fumble inside the Tigers red zone was recovered by Demarco Lucas to set Chilton County up first and ten at their own 20.

After a first down run by Davis to move the ball out to the 35, Davis dropped back to pass on a second and 19 from their own 26 and was picked off by Tomaz Pritchett who would return the interception for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 20-13.

The Tigers ensuing drive started at their own 35 yard line and with the ground game leading the way, Chilton drove deep into Golden Eagles’ territory and faced a forth and goal from the 1 yard line.

Davis took the snap from center and rolling to his right made a throw to the end zone, but was again picked by Pritchett who took the interception 99 yards for another Golden Eagles touchdown to send the game to the half 28-13.

The Tigers turnover trend would continue to start the second half as a fumble at their own 34 would turn the ball over. This time the CCHS defense would stand tall and stop a forth and four at their own four to give the ball back to their offense.

Davis and running back Keshawn Williams capitalized on the defensive stop as Davis would connect with Williams on a 67-yard touchdown pass the bring the score to 28-19 late in the third quarter.

The turnover bug continued to plague the Tigers with their ensuing drive as for the third time on the evening, Davis would throw another pick six that would give the Eagles a 42-19 lead.

While hoping to cut into the Eagles lead, Deja Vu would strike Davis and the Tigers as a fourth pick six would be the result of a first and goal play that would make the score 50-19 with 5:50 to play.

The Tigers added a pair of late touchdowns on a 5-yard touchdown run by Keyuntay Kine along with a 12-yard touchdown run by Williams, but it would be to little to late as the Golden Eagles would escape with a 50-33 win.

“We have a great group of kids and they done everything that we asked all year long.” Chilton County head coach Brian Bradford said. “It was just one of those cases were we let the emotions of the game get the best of us and we just didn’t play well at all, but these kids are outstanding. This is the greatest group of kids that I have ever coached and I hate to see them go.”

A loss in the final game for the Tigers departing seniors was not the story book ending some had hoped for, but for all, the season and time together was something that they will take with them.

“We fought hard throughout the year and played at a 6A level and were very dedicated to it,” said Chilton County senior Linebacker Dustin Cleckler. “We really became a brotherhood.”

Davis completed nine of 16 pass attempts for 181 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, while also rushing 20 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.