TROJAN FIELD — The Gaylesville football team is a bit like the doorknob to the Trojan press box.  

Sporting a senior-laden group, Gaylesville had trounced all previous 2010 home opponents, outscoring them by a combined 98-31. Presumably, the doorknob, too, was efficient through all those wins. Yet, when Cedar Bluff swaggered into town Friday night, neither the home team or the doorknob functioned very well.  

As reported and recorded by radio announcers and team film crews locked in the press box for a portion of the third quarter, Cedar Bluff resoundingly ended Gaylesville’s home win streak with a 45-6 win.  

Emerging victorious in this, the 80th year of the rivalry, Cedar Bluff clinched a Nov. 5 home playoff berth against Hackleburg. The defeat dropped Gaylesville to third place in region 7A, necessitating a road trip to Addison in two weeks.   

Cedar Bluff began the scoring barrage less than four minutes into the game. After Gaylesville failed to convert a midfield fourth down on the openingg possession, the Tigers promptly drove 50 yards, scoring in only four plays on Marcus Reese’s 24-yard run. With elusive moves as sweet as the candy that shares his name, Reese would rack up 156 yards and three touchdowns.  

Despite encouragement from Gaylesville’s big-headed, sword-toting, purple boot-wearing mascot, the Trojan defense couldn’t contain Reese. The senior scored on Cedar Bluff’s second possession, a 40-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Levi Mintz. The Tigers led 12-0 after one quarter. 

A parking lot vehicle’s rear windshield read, “Die, Bluff, Die!” but Cedar Bluff contradicted the shoe-polished message, and as the Tigers began to widen the score in the second quarter, the silent sound of utter disappointment enveloped the Gaylesville stands and sideline.  

After an early second quarter punt Tiger Zachary Taylor was as “rough and ready” as the president with the same name, returning the kick 51-yards for the touchdown to bump the score to 18-0. 

Gaylesville quarterback Luke Murphy, who had endured a fracture earlier in the season, had been cleared to play for the game, and Trojan coach, Brian Clowdis inserted him after Taylor’s punt return. But after an incompletion, a sack, and two punts, the injured senior was back on the sideline. 

Cedar Bluff lifted the lead to 25-0 with a 28-yard pass from Mintz to Reese midway through the second quarter, capping a five-play, 70 yard drive.  

After another Trojan punt, the brightly-shining full moon hovered overhead as senior Kyle Beck ended a six-play, 64-yard possession with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Tigers took a 32-0 lead to the locker room.

Upon receiving the kick to start the second half, the Tigers continued where they had left off, marching another 75 yards downfield. Bam Henderson crossed into the end zone from five yards out. The score stood at 39-0 after Mando Williams’s third successful point-after attempt of the night. 

During that drive, Gaylesville public address announcer Todd Dean announced, to obvious chuckles, “Would somebody come open up the press box? We’ve locked ourselves in.” When inside and outside efforts failed to budge the cantankerous knob, someone used a screwdriver and extracted it from the door.  

On Gaylesville’s next play from scrimmage, Beck recovered a Trojan fumble, giving the Tigers the ball deep in Trojan territory. Six plays later, Henderson scored the Tigers’ final touchdown, boosting the visiting Tigers to a hefty 45-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.  

Gaylesville then pieced together a drive into Tiger territory on their next possession, but Rahied Harris intercepted Levi Morgan’s pass to quell it.   

After Tiger reserves failed to advance past midfield, Gaylesville tallied their lone points on the last play of the game. Senior Trey Jordan barreled through the middle, finishing an 11-play, 64-yard drive to tally the game’s final score, 45-6. 

What made Cedar Bluff look so impressive? Coach Jonathan McWhorter said that they did it the old-fashioned way, earning it on the line of scrimmage.  

“Defensively, Gaylesville likes to try to put a lot of pressure on you,” McWhorter said. “I think the line kind of neutralized that pretty well.” 

McWhorter said a good week of practice showed on the field. 

“This was probably the best week, Monday through tonight, of preparation and then execution on the field that we’ve had all year,” he said. “Our kids, they work hard. They understand what it takes to be successful.” 

In non-region action this final week of the regular season, Cedar Bluff (7-2, 6-1) travels to Fultondale. Gaylesville (6-3, 5-2) hosts Berry Fayette.