Verbena snapped a 12-game losing streak with Friday’s 20-19 win over Winterboro, which also entered the game winless on the season.

“We needed that so bad,” VHS coach Mike Harris said moments before being doused with cold liquid. “I’ve been waiting for that for two years. It’s just unreal.”

The Red Devils (1-8 overall, 1-6 region) had to come from behind for the win, as it appeared early that it would be the visiting Bulldogs (0-9, 0-7) who would earn their first victory of the season.

Winterboro scored on its first three possessions. Though they were piling up the points, the Bulldogs converted on only one of their point-after attempts, a fact that would come back to haunt them.

With the VHS defense settling in, Winterboro seemed to have gifted their hosts a score late in the second quarter, when a snap sailed over the punter’s head and the Devils took over on the Winterboro 15-yard line.

But Verbena gave the ball right back with a lost fumble on their first play.

Verbena’s Christian Agee killed Winterboro’s ensuing drive with an interception, and then, with 2 seconds remaining before halftime, the Devils struck for their first score of the game.

Quarterback Jared Mims pitched to William Cook, who threw it deep on a halfback pass. Juwan Tyus somehow managed to get behind two Winterboro defenders, caught the pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone.

Tristan Short’s point-after made the score 19-7 at halftime.

The second half opened with three consecutive turnovers, until Verbena scored on a Mims keeper from 17 yards out. Short added the point-after.

Verbena’s defense then held Winterboro on two straight possessions, giving the ball back to the offense with a chance to take the lead.

The Devils did just that, marching 81 yards in 7:30 in the fourth quarter. On a fourth down play from Winterboro’s 13-yard line, Mims passed to Agee in the end zone for the lead. The extra point try was no good, but the Devils had the lead.

Winterboro took over with 1:40 on the clock, but their drive was ended with a Raymond Bulger interception.