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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Pelham High School edged out Chilton County High School 34-28 in the Tigers final AHSAA Class 6A Region 3 game on Oct. 27.

After the Tigers took a 7-0 lead after the first quarter on a Demarcus Riddick from Logan Coppedge touchdown connection on their opening drive of the game, Pelham scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to hold a 17-7 lead at halftime.

Coppedge and Riddick connected again on the Tigers first drive of the second half from seven yards out to shrink the lead to 17-14. The two teams traded touchdowns the rest of the third quarter with Coppedge tossing his third of the game, this one from eight yards out to Marco Simon to make it 24-21 Pelham entering the final quarter.

Pelham added 10 points in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers in a 34-21 hole, but Coppedge and the offense responded again, and quickly, finding Cohen Ellison for a 38-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to six points.

Coppedge had his best game as a high school quarterback going 14-for-20 for 303 yards and four touchdowns. Seven different Tigers’ receivers caught a pass, led by Simon with six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

“(Coppedge’s) preparation, his leadership and his grit all came through for him,” CCHS head coach Marvin Morton said. “He has grown throughout the year, and the things he is doing as a sophomore you typically see out of a senior football player.”

The CCHS defense forced a punt by Pelham inside their own 10-yard line and had a chance to drive for the win with just over two minutes left on the clock. However, a muffed punt was recovered by Pelham, and the CCHS offense did not get a shot to tie or win the game.

“This team is going to fight to the very end, and I was pleased how the team continued to fight on,” Morton said. “We had some young guys step up for us … I was very proud of all the kids’ effort and fight to the very last play.”

D.J. Caffey led the Tigers’ defense with 13 tackles, followed by Jake Payton with 12 and Justin Godwin with 10. Ricardo Parker and Riddick each had a sack.

Chilton County (3-6) visits Marbury High School for the Tigers’ season finale on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.