By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

With only two region games left in the 2013 football season, the Chilton County Tigers found themselves facing a must-win on Friday night in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

After a fast start for the Tigers (4-4 overall, 3-3 region), it would be the defense that would be called upon late in the fourth quarter to seal a 15-7 victory over the John Carroll Cavaliers (3-6, 2-4).

With their first drive of the game starting at their own 39-yard line, Tiger quarterback Trenton Bishop pitched to Davre Williams, who would then hit a streaking Braylen Parker down the right side line for a 61-yard touchdown.

Parker and Williams hooked up again for the two-point conversion, but it would be Parker finding Williams in the end zone this time to put the Tigers up early, 8-0.

After two three-and-outs by the Cavaliers, the Tiger offense would start its second possession of the second half from their own 38.

A 34-yard run by Myric Good set up the Tigers with first-and-10 at the Cavaliers’ 35. Two plays later, Jakevius Boswell took it to the end zone on a 30-yard touchdown run, making the score 15-0 late in the third quarter.

A Cade Hatch interception with less than 4 minutes left to play looked to be the final defensive stand needed for the Tigers.

However, two plays later a Tiger fumble resulted in a first down for the Cavaliers at the Tiger 33, and five plays later Mara found John Tighe in the end zone to draw the Cavaliers to within eight with 2:30 left to play.

John Carroll recovered an onside kick, and with 2:29 to play, the Cavaliers set up first-and-10 from the Tigers’ 49.

Executing a short passing game and quick work of the clock, the Cavaliers marched down to the Tigers’ 13, where with 1:05 to play Mara threw his second interception of the game, this time to Corbin Bice, thus sealing the win for the Tigers.

“The defense played a great game,” CCHS coach Donnie Hand said. “They kept giving the ball back to the offense. We started out both halfs really well, but we can’t do what we need to do consistently on offense.”

Good led the Tigers ground game with 78 yards on 15 carries.