Red Raiders defeat Tigers 44-12 Friday

GUIN — The Marion County High School Red Raiders hosted the Brilliant High School Tigers on Friday night, Sept. 8. The Raiders defeated the Tigers 44-12.
The Raiders were the first to score when Joe Aldridge completed a pass to Donaven Moss. With the extra point, the Raiders were up 7-0.
The Tigers were unable to get the first down with their first possession of the game, and the Raiders started first and 10 at their own 25 after the punt.
The Raiders gained at least 10 yards on first down, but a holding penalty brought them back to first and long. Aldridge was sacked by Brilliant’s Brooks Armstrong on the repeat of first down for another loss.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set the Raiders back even more, setting up a second down and an even longer predicament for them.
But Tye Madison took the ball and broke through the defense to turn the tide and score Marion County’s second touchdown of the game.
After the two-point conversion failed, the Raiders were leading 13-0.
The Tigers started on their own 27-yard line after the kickoff. After gaining one yard on first down, the Tigers gave the ball to Brooks McLemore, who ran for the first down all the way to the Raiders’ 39-yard line.
The clock ran out on the first quarter, and the second quarter began with the Raiders fourth and two from the Raiders’ 31-yard line. Kason Pool got the first down after a fake and took the Tigers down to the 22-yard line.
The Tigers kept up the pace and closed in all the way to the 7-yard line. The Raider defense made a few stops, but on fourth down, the Tigers scored with a complete pass in the end zone. The kick was blocked, but the Tigers were on the board 13-6.
The Tigers attempted an onside kick, but the Raiders were able to get control of the ball first. Lipsey ran and got the first down. From the Tigers’ 31-yard line, Samuel Taylor rushed for five yards. The Raiders lost a few yards on the next play, but on third down, Moss caught another pass in the end zone for another touchdown. The kick was blocked, but the Raiders were still leading 19-6.
The Tigers’ next possession ended in another punt, and the Raiders would get one more possession in the first half. Dalyce Floyd and Taylor gained some yardage for the Raiders, bringing them up to the Tigers’ 10-yard line.
With just under 20 seconds to go, Riley Smith barged through the defensive line and into the end zone for another Raider touchdown. The two-point conversion was broken up again, but the Raiders still held a comfortable 25-6 lead going into halftime.
The Raiders scored again early in the third quarter to increase their lead to 31-6.
The Tigers returned the kickoff to their own 34-yard line. Pool  and Harding caught passes, moving the chains. Armstrong and McLemore gained a few more yards on first, second and third down, but a flag on fourth down and a stop in the backfield ended that drive.
The Raiders took over on downs on their own 42-yard line. Omarion Smith was stopped in the backfield on first down for a loss by Pool, but on second and 16, Aldridge kept the ball and ran all the way to the end zone for another rushing touchdown. The kick was good, and the Raiders were leading 38-6.
Apart from an automatic first down from a horse collar penalty and a good run from McLemore for another first down, the Tigers failed to gain on their next drive as the third quarter ended, and the Raiders took over on downs as the fourth quarter began.
Starting from their own 18-yard line, the Raiders started off with a loss of yards. On second down, Aldridge kept once again and brought the Raiders up to midfield, before a holding call brought them back to the 35.
On first and 10, Madison ran all the way back to the Tigers’ end zone for the Raiders’ final touchdown of the night. The kick was no good, but the Raiders secured their victory with a 44-6 lead.
The Tigers made the most out of the final few minutes of the game as Harding got through on third down for a first down but kept going, and scored the Tigers’ final touchdown.
The kick missed, leaving the Tigers behind 44-12 as the Raiders took a knee after the kickoff.
Marion County’s offense made 23 rushes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Aldridge went 8 to 9 on passing for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Aldridge was also the leading rusher with 150 yards and two touchdowns over five rushes.
Madison was the Raiders’ leading receiver with four receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. Moss caught two receptions for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
This Friday, the Raiders will travel to Tuscaloosa to play against Holy Spirit Catholic School, and the Tigers will have a bye week.