Sept. 2, 2013
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Trojans win thriller over Tigers, 40-39 By ROY MITCHELL GAYLESVILLE — It was very late in the game, near midfield. Cole Murphy cradled the errant pass and ran. It had been a tough half for the Gaylesville senior against rival Cedar Bluff. Not only had Murphy been treated for leg cramps, he had vomited a couple of times on the sideline. With the Trojans nursing a 34-33 lead and just over a minute left in the game, Murphy didn't hesitate. After grabbing the ball he ran like everyone in a white jersey was chasing him. They were. In the end, it was history that almost stopped Cole Murphy and the Trojans. History hasn't been kind to Gaylesville on the gridiron, especially against longtime rival Cedar Bluff. The Trojans have played second fiddle to the Tigers for most of the last three-quarters of a century, losing 55 of 72 meetings. The last time Gaylesville topped the Tigers was 1995. Before that, 1984. Gaylesville led much of the 2013 chapter of the annual rivalry. Until Murphy's interception, the home crowd held quiet optimism like they were reluctant to celebrate, afraid their rivals would snatch away a victory just like they always seemed to, somehow. Cedar Bluff had already missed several scoring opportunities. Two long Tiger touchdowns had been negated because of personal fouls--one for excessive celebration as a receiver strode towards the goal line. Also, near the end of the half, two different open Tiger receivers dropped touchdown passes on consecutive plays. Cedar Bluff failed to score on all three drives. Had fate finally smiled on the Trojans? As soon as Murphy intercepted the pass, the Gaylesville fans thought so. By the time Murphy vaulted into the end zone, a loud eruption had become a deafening roar. The clamor was driven by stung pride, the humility of 17 long years as the black sheep to the Tigers’ favorite son. Murphy's interception and subsequent score sealed the game. It would be the defining moment in the defining game of an entire generation. At least, that's what everybody thought. Then the extra point failed. Then the ensuing kickoff was returned to near midfield. Then on third down and 3, Tiger senior quarterback Dalton Cosby rushed down to the Trojan 24-yard line. Then came a late hit penalty against Gaylesville, placing the ball on the 12-yard line. Two plays later came a touchdown, Cosby to junior receiver D’Shawn Fife in the left flat. Then came the defining moment of the defining game of Gaylesville's current generation. Down 40-39 with 6.6 seconds remaining on the clock, Cedar Bluff decided to try for a game-winning two-point conversion. Suddenly, the Trojans’ dream was only a couple of yards away from being dashed. Again. On the snap, Cosby handed off to Fife, who dove towards the right side of the line before reaching the scrum. Was there enough of a push to crack the plane of the end zone? In the end, Murphy and his teammates stared history in the eye and history blinked. The only thing that is now history is Gaylesville's long losing streak to Cedar Bluff. The Gaylesville Trojans triumphed over the Cedar Bluff Tigers, 40-39. The win was memorable for everyone who saw or heard it, but perhaps most of all for a pair of young men who took part in it--rookie head coach Kyle Garmon and freshman running back Gage Davis, who tallied 225 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries. This week, Cedar Bluff travels to Valley Head. Gaylesville heads to Spring Garden to take on the Panthers, who lost 53-7 to Fayetteville on Friday night. Both are region games. |