By Justin Averette

BILLINGSLEY – Thorsby edged Billingsley, 42-40, in a game that featured 12 touchdowns, four lead changes, too many turnovers and hundreds of rushing yards that are likely still being tabulated.

In the process, Thorsby improves to 4-0 and beats rival Billingsley for the first time in their last 10 tries, the most recent game being played in 2001.

After trading several punts, the offensive fireworks started.

Billingsley took an early lead with a 10-yard run by A.J. Tyus. A successful 2-point conversion put the Bears up 8-0.

Thorsby answered quickly, though. A 49-yard run by Kalup Nunn set up a 3-yard touchdown dash by quarterback Andrew Farris. The Rebels made their conversion to tie the game 8-8 with 1:02 to go in the first.

The game would go back and forth again, with Billingsley scoring off a 34-yard run by Jimmie Lanier. Nunn struck back quickly with a 4-yard run to give Thorsby its second touchdown of the night.

Billingsley missed its 2-point conversion, so a successful PAT kick gave Thorsby its first lead of the night, 15-14.

The Bears responded with a 9-yard touchdown run by Lanier and went up 22-15 with a successful 2-point conversion.

Thorsby scored the next three touchdowns, making a comeback seem less likely.

Farris scored on a 2-yard keeper and then a 1-yard run late in the second quarter.

Farris kept the train going with a 72-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter, giving Thorsby its largest lead of the night, 36-22.

The Bears battled back, though, scoring off a 14-yard pass and then a 1-yard run by Reggie Browder to tighten the score at 36-34.

Thorsby scored again with a pass from Farris to Marcus Bray for 11 yards. A missed PAT kick kept the score to 8 points and the Bears in the game.

Late in the game, Billingsley drove down the field to score off a 13-yard pass from Garrett Price to Keyjuan Goodson with 1:12 to go in the game. The Bears couldn’t convert the 2-point conversion to tie the game, giving Thorsby the 2-point victory.

The Bears missed two prime opportunities, fumbling twice in the second half, one right at the goal line on what would have been a touchdown.

Billingsley (1-3, 1-2 region) next travels to Maplesville, while Thorsby (3-0 region) hopes to improve to 5-0 against Shades Mountain Christian.