The Tullahoma Wildcats face a long trip in the first round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs after a 28-20 loss to Columbia in the regular season finale Friday night at Wilkins Stadium.
With the loss, Tullahoma (5-5, 2-2) finishes third in Region 4-5A and will travel to Walker Valley (7-3, 5-1). The Mustangs finished second in Region 3-5A after falling to Rhea County 16-10 on Friday.
Columbia clinched the Region 4-5A championship with its win over Tullahoma. The Lions jumped out to a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a short touchdown run by QB Daniel Booker. The Wildcats drove into Columbia territory, but Chase Dodson came up short on a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Tullahoma’s Elijah Alexander tackled the Columbia punter deep in the Lions’ backfield, setting the Wildcat offense up at the Lions’ 15-yard line. With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Johnson scored from one yard away, and Dodson’s PAT tied the game at 7-7 after one quarter.
Tullahoma’s Sylas McGowen sacked the Lions’ quarterback to end Columbia’s next drive, and Johnson scored a 26-yard TD early in the second quarter to put the Wildcats on top 13-7. The next Wildcat drive was stopped, but Johnson surprised the Lions with a punt to the Columbia four-yard line.
Will Hyden blocked a Columbia punt attempt, setting the Wildcats up at the Lions’ 17-yard line with two minutes remaining in the half. Dodson missed a 36-yard field goal attempt, and the first half ended with Tullahoma leading 13-7.
Behind the passing of Lucas Reed, the Wildcats opened the third quarter with a crisp drive, culminating in a 17-yard touchdown pass to Alex Bobo. Dodson’s PAT put the Wildcats ahead 20-7 with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Columbia responded with a long drive and a touchdown, cutting the Tullahoma lead to 20-14 with 4:41 left in the third quarter. Johnson then burst up the middle for an apparent 85-yard touchdown, but a Tullahoma penalty wiped the score off the scoreboard.
After a fake punt by the Wildcats failed to produce a first down, Columbia took advantage and scored with 8:15 remaining to take a 21-20 lead. With six minutes remaining, Columbia intercepted a tipped pass and took it to the end zone for the final score.
Tullahoma drove into Columbia territory, but the Lions intercepted Reed again with less than a minute to go to seal the victory and send the Wildcats on the road for the first round of the playoffs.
Johnson gained 142 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns. Tullahoma completed 14-24 passes for 113 yards, and Bobo caught five passes for 48 yards and a score.
