By Justin Averette

The Clanton Advertiser

BILLINGSLY — Billingsley took care of R.C. Hatch handily Friday, winning 46-14. Turnovers kept the Bobcats from ever being able to claw their way back into contention.

Billingsley took a big early lead and never looked back. The Bears took their first possession of the game down the field, which was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by A.J. Tyus.

Billingsley’s next touchdown would come via a 15-yard pass from Preston Wallace to Carlos Caver.

The Bears would go on to score two more touchdowns before R.C. Hatch would ever get on the board: a 30-yard run by A.J. Tyus and a 54-yard TD reception by Andrew Dudley put things at 28-0.

Turnovers stopped the Bobcats several times. Matt Prebula had two interceptions for Billingsley on the night, while Wallace had one interception and Trevor Tyus had a fumble recovery.

R.C. Hatch would finally get on the board with 5:30 to go in the third quarter off a pass from Deroderick Norfleet to Nigel Black. A successful 2-point conversion put things at 30-8.

If the Bobcats had any momentum it was then, as Billingsley fumbled on their ensuring possession, which was recovered by Keyon Burrell.

But a bad snap, penalty and then Wallace’s interception stopped R.C. Hatch cold.

Late in the game, Caver added a 4-yard touchdown run. Thomas Nicholas scored the last touchdown for Billingsley with a 35-yard run on 4th and 16.

R.C. Hatch’s Marcus Tabb returned the following kickoff for a touchdown to cap scoring for the night with 1:08 to go in the game.

Billingsley improves to 4-2 on the season and 3-1 in regional play, while R.C. Hatch falls to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the region.

The Bears travel to American Christian next week in another regional match-up.