WARRIOR STADIUM — Rocky Hayes rushed for 161 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Cleburne County Tigers to 28-20 victory over the Cherokee County Warriors at Bobby Joe Johnson Stadium Friday night.

The Tigers scored first on an 11-yard run by Hayes with 9:53 left in the first quarter to cap a four-play, 65-yard drive. Blake Price kicked the point after to make it 7-0 Cleburne County. Hayes hit pay dirt again on a 26-yard run with 4:10 remaining in the first. Price’s extra point made it 14-0 in favor of Cleburne County. The drive covered 64 yards in six plays.

The Tigers finished out the first half scoring on a four-play, 29-yard drive, which was culminated on a 29-yard pass from Matthew Norton to Hayes with 4:24 left in the second. Price booted the point after to make it 21-0 Cleburne County.

The Warriors drove inside the Tiger 30 three times in the first half but turned the ball over each time on downs.

The Warriors started off the second half on a positive note when D.J. McAlister ran 10 yards for a score with 5:37 left in the third. The drive covered 28 yards in four plays and was set up by a Dalton Colbert fumble recovery. The extra point was no good, making the score 21-6.

The Warriors scored again with less than a minute left in the third when Kenny Akin went in from a yard out. That play capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive. The two-point conversion failed, making the score 21-12 Cleburne County.

Cleburne County closed out their scoring with 4:11 left in the game on a 29-yard pass from Norton to Tanner Howell. The play was set up by a Tiger fumble recovery. Price kicked the extra point to make the score 28-12 .

Cherokee County then drove 73 yards in 10 plays, with Tay Rooks hitting the end zone from 13 yards out with 1:43 remaining. Blake Burgess hit Jade Boatfield for the two-point conversion to make it 28-20 Cleburne County.

The Warriors had one last chance with an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Tigers and they ran the clock out.

Burgess led the Warriors with 113 yard rushing on 19 carries. He was also 10 of 15 passing for 83 yards. D.J. McAlister added 57 yards on 11 carries.

For the game the Warriors outgained Cleburne County 325 yards to 270 yards. With the loss, the Warriors fall to 3-2. They host North Jackson this Friday.