SHINBONE RIDGE – Freshman quarterback Jordan McCartney scrambled into the end zone with 20 seconds remaining, redeeming himself for two first-half fumbles and clinching a 14-7 Bulldogs victory over Cedar Bluff Friday night.

With the win, Gaston secured its second straight Class 1A, Region 6 championship in the team's final home game of the regular season. The Bulldogs will host a first-round playoff game on Nov. 6.

Gaston head coach Swane Morris said the last-second win was an indication of how closely the two teams are matched, year after year.

“I told Coach McWhorter after the game that this is a rivalry game and this is the type of game it should always be,” he said. “I was proud of their kids and ours.”

A year ago, Gaston beat Cedar Bluff 21-14, and has won five of the last eight meetings. Cedar Bluff still leads the overall series 27-23-1.

Cedar Bluff's offense looked good early, driving 55 yards on the game's opening possession. Jamey Crane's seven-yard pass to Tyric Scales, followed by Scales's extra point, put the Tigers ahead 7-0 with eight minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

McCartney fumbled at the 30-yard line on the ensuing possession but, as was the case for most of the night, Cedar Bluff's running game was unproductive. After gaining no yards on three plays, a 14-yard punt gave Gaston the ball at the Tiger 40.

The Bulldogs capped an eight-play drive on Dustin Isbell's three-yard plunge with 10:24 remaining in the half. Just before the end of the half, Gaston drove to the Cedar Bluff 5-yard line, but McCartney fumbled the ball as he dove for the end zone and a Tiger defender recovered the ball at the 3.

Both teams spent the rest of the half and all the third quarter fighting for field position, but neither could mount a sustained drive against the other's defense. Gaston finished the game with 220 yards of total offense. Cedar Bluff had 201 yards.

Halfway through the final quarter, Cedar Bluff began a drive that fired up the visiting crowd. But offensive penalties after consecutive 20-plus yard runs by senior Joe Nelson caused the drive to sputter out at the Gaston 22.

Gaston appeared content to head into overtime, but a pass interference call on a Tiger defender on third-and-9 gave the Bulldogs the ball in Cedar Bluff territory with less than a minute remaining. McCartney completed a desperation pass to running back Collin Jarbo at the 18-yard line with 47 seconds left. Two plays later, McCartney went from the dog house to the penthouse when he darted between two defenders and into the end zone from 10 yards out.

Looking back on a first half filled with Bulldog turnovers, Morris said he was just grateful his team found a way to win.

“We were our own worst enemy in the first half,” he said. “But I think it's great that our quarterback scored the winning touchdown. For a ninth grader to make the decision he made to run the ball, that's great.”

Cedar Bluff coach Jonathan McWhorter was gracious in defeat, and refused to blame the loss on the back-to-back penalties during the Tigers' fourth quarter drive.

“I'm not an official and I'm not going to speculate on their job, but I felt like we had momentum until that happened," said McWhorter.

"Plain and simple, they made plays and we didn't, and you've got to tip your hat to coach Morris and his staff,” he added. “They put together a terrific game plan to win. Our kids came to win and fought hard, but our execution was off a little bit.”

Morris said he and his staff dusted off an old playbook after losing All-State running back Demont Buice to a season-ending ankle injury earlier this season.

“We went back to some old stuff that we used to do and now everybody's sharing touches and it's working good for us right now,” he said.

With the loss, McWhorter's team has gone from region title contender to having to fight its way into the postseason.

“We've got a huge game against Gaylesville next week, and we pretty much have to win that one to get into the playoffs,” he said. “At this point, it's all or nothing.”

Cedar Bluff (5-3, 4-2) hosts the Trojans (5-3, 4-2) Friday night at Bruce Field. Gaston (6-2, 5-1) travels to winless Woodville.