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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Thorsby High School set a new playoff scoring record with a 50-16 win over Chickasaw High School in the first round of the AHSAA Class 2A State Playoffs. The Rebels needed just one half to put together their record-breaking performance of 50 points, beating their previous high of 42 points in a 42-14 win over Geneva County High School in the first round in 2017.

“We felt like we needed to jump on them quick, and we did that,” Thorsby head coach Daryl Davis said. “Once we did that we told at halftime we were going to get the subs in there to keep everybody fresh. The plan worked out.”

Thorsby’s Luke Turner intercepted a pass to halt the opening Chickasaw drive, and Coden Cummings turned the turnover into six points with a 15-yard touchdown run. Grayson McManus added a two-point conversion run to make it 8-0 Rebels, early.

Chickasaw responded with a long touchdown run to tie it up their ensuing possession, but the lead was short lived as McManus got back into the end zone from three yards out to retake the lead 14-8. On the next two plays from scrimmage, McManus recovered a Chickasaw fumble, and the next Nate Thomas ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 22-8 after the McManus to Brooks Barrett two-point conversion.

In the second quarter, Thorsby scored a quartet of touchdowns starting off with Cummings’ second touchdown run of the night, this one from 11 yards out to make it 29-8. McManus found Thomas for a long touchdown pass, and then Cummings scored from 17 yards out to bust the game open at 43-8 nearing halftime.

Braylon Carroll put the exclamation point on the first half for Thorsby with seconds remaining on the clock, fielding a punt and scampering down the Rebels’ sideline for a touchdown and the school playoff scoring record.

Defensive coordinator Charles Bowden and the Rebels’ defense stuffed a rather potent Chickasaw offense to just two touchdowns, one in the waning seconds of the game.

“(Bowden) had a good game plan together and worked on it all week, and they understood what he was trying to do,” Davis said. “They came out and executed it, and I could not be prouder of them.”

Thorsby will play the winner of Reeltown High School and Wicksburg High School who matchup on Nov. 10 for their first-round game.

“Whoever we play next will be good, but if you want to be the best you have to beat the best, and we are going to go ahead and get one of them out of the way and give it all we got,” Davis said.

Thorsby’s second round game will be on the road regardless of their opponent, and it will be played on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.