Thorsby used a grinding ground game to pull out a 32-13 win over rival Verbena on Friday in the season opener for both teams.

The first four possessions of the night ended with a turnover—a theme that would prevail throughout a sloppy game—but Thorsby quarterback Braden McRae bucked the trend with a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:14 remaining in the second quarter.

Dalton Turner’s point-after made the score 7-0, but Verbena tied the score about 6 minutes later on a 75-yard run by Jeronskie Williams.

Williams had 196 yards rushing on just seven carries, but it wasn’t enough.

The game was tied at 7 at halftime, but THS took the lead for good on a 4-yard run by McRae, who then added a touchdown run of 12 yards and a touchdown pass to Parker Bryan.

Nolan Hayes recorded a touchdown run of 22 yards, and Williams concluded the scoring with an 82-yard TD run.

McRae finished the game 12-of-19 passing for 73 yards, and he had 75 rushing yards on 15 attempts.

Hayes had 59 yards on 12 carries.