Unlike last year’s meeting, Chilton County High didn’t fold when Demopolis built a large lead. The visitors were still able to hold on and win, though, 21-14.

Demopolis took a 21-0 lead before halftime, reminiscent of the 30-0 edge last year that turned into a 50-0 rout, but CCHS scored twice in the second half and threatened with time running out.

The comeback attempt ended at midfield with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-15 with 52 seconds to go in the game.

“Our defense played well all night, but we put them in a bad way offensively,” Demopolis coach Tom Causey said. “I think we shut it down in the second half. We didn’t come out [of the locker room] with the energy we needed.

“We were fortunate to get out of here with a win.”

The result improves Class 5A No. 4 Demopolis to 2-0 on the season, 1-0 in Region 3.

Demopolis began the scoring with a 25-yard playaction pass from junior quarterback Ben Pettus to senior Anthony Hardy with 8:15 left in the second quarter. The extra point was no good, but the Tigers made up for it with a two-point conversion pass from Pettus to Hardy after Jeremy Wallace juggled a Pettus pass on a slant pattern but found the handle before diving for the goal line.

Less than one minute later, with 41 seconds left in the first half, Hardy intercepted a Hughes pass on the Demopolis 30-yard line and ran it back to the CCHS 5. Pettus connected with Wallace for another touchdown on the next play, and Spence Overstreet kicked the extra point.

Demopolis turned the ball over with two fumbles that were recovered by junior defensive backs Alan Lucas and Quentin Underwood.

The homestanding Tigers (1-1, 0-1) finally got on the scoreboard on the first play of the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Taylor Hughes found junior receiver Montel Wilkes from 10 yards out on third-and-goal. Senior Noe Chavez kicked the extra point.

CCHS’s other touchdown came on a Hughes pass to senior Jalen Osborne from 31 yards out with 6:17 left.