By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Jemison fell to Demopolis at home in Friday’s matchup, with a final score of 56-7.

The Demopolis Tigers scored two touchdowns in the opening 30 seconds of the game. The first play of the game was a touchdown, followed by the kickoff, which was fumbled by Jemison, allowing the Tigers to run it in for a second touchdown.

The Panthers seemed cursed with slippery hands as they dropped another ball on the following drive. The Tigers took possession in Jemison territory and scored soon thereafter, leaving the score at 21-0 with 5:51 in the first quarter.

Demopolis reached 28 points and remained with a comfortable lead, until Jemison put together their best drive of the night. Key plays from quarterback Eric Evans and receiver Austin Moore took the Panthers from their own 35 to the end zone. The drive ended on a touchdown run by Evans with only seconds left in the half.

After the half, the Tigers showed no signs of letting up. Jemison maintained possession of the ball for the first four minutes of the half, then Demopolis took possession for a five minute drive which ended with a 31-yard touchdown run.

On the Panthers’ next possession, the Demopolis defense intercepted a pass and ran it in for a 45-yard touchdown. This was the second time on the night that the Tigers scored twice within thirty seconds.

This week, the Panthers’ errors widened the gap against a team who seized every opportunity to score. Demopolis showed the same determination to stop the run game as Dallas County did last week against Jemison.

Statistically, the teams did not look as different as the scoreboard might suggest. Total yardage for Demopolis was 395, and Jemison had 212. Both teams had 11 first downs, and Demopolis came away with five penalties worth 40 yards total, while Jemison only had the one 15-yard penalty.

Jemison is 3-6 overall and 2-4 in their region after Friday’s matchup, and will face off against Shelby County High School at home next week.