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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Chilton County High School welcomed in hundreds of Tigers’ fans for their season opener at Tiger Stadium against Bibb County High School on Aug. 25. The fans were treated to a stellar first half showing by the Tigers who held a 21-6 lead at halftime.

However, Bibb County scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to mount the 33-21 comeback on the road.

“The community showed up for us tonight, and I am just disappointed we did not finish the game like we should have,” Chilton County head coach Marvin Morton said. “That is something we have to get back to the drawing board with on Sunday, get ready for next week and fix the things that got us in the second half.”

The Choctaws scored a minute and nine seconds into the second half but still trailed 21-13 after three quarters. The CCHS defense stopped Bibb County twice on fourth down inside their own red zone in the second half, but Bibb County added three fourth quarter touchdowns and a late-game interception to seal the game.

“Bibb County never folded, and they kept persevering,” Morton said. “Our guys have a long way to go as far as getting over that mental hump. We are going to have to improve that going into next week, and we have got to find some leadership in this team. We are not quite there yet where we thought we would be at this point.”

Bibb County struck first in the opening quarter to go up 6-0 and stifled a CCHS drive with an interception off quarterback Logan Coppedge. The Tigers’ defense got the offense the ball back, and Coppedge righted his wrong immediately finding Luke Moates for a long touchdown connection to go up 7-6 after the successful point after.

CCHS carried the one-point lead into the second quarter, and the defense stood tall again forcing a Bibb County fumble after a lengthy drive inside the Tigers’ 10-yard line. The ensuing drive was aided by Choctaw mistakes twice, the first a roughing the kicker penalty when the Tigers were punting on fourth down. Driving inside the Bibb County red zone, CCHS was faced with another fourth down and got the Choctaws to jump offside for a fresh set of downs. D.J. Jackson needed one play to get in the end zone from there to extend the lead to 14-6.

Justin Godwin found himself in the right place at the right time on the first play of the next Bibb County drive snatching a tipped pass and taking it 30 yards for the interception return touchdown just a minute and some change from halftime.

Chilton County (0-1) will travel to Jemison High School on Aug. 31 for their next matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.