By Perry Lewter

News Courier Sports

TRINITY – The Tanner Rattlers controlled the football in the fourth quarter to hold off a come-from-behind rally from West Morgan for a 28-21 region win.

Demarcus King intercepted a Rebel pass with 1:05 remaining to assure the Rattlers of the victory.

“I knew I had to have my hands on he football,” King said. “I felt like if we could get the football one more time we had the win.”

Delano Yarbrough recovered a Rebel fumble to end their first possession of the fourth quarter. On the next possession West Morgan was forced to punt. King’s interecpetion end the Rebels third possession of that quarter.

“I just wanted to keep the football out of their hands.” King said.

“We knew we beat a good football team,” Rattler coach LaRon White said. “West Morgan did a lot of things well. I am real proud of our team. Our offensive line did well and our backs came through for us when we needed them too. I wish we could have had better field position.”

Rod Byrd got the Rattlers off to a good start by intercepting a West Morgan pass on the third play of their first possession. 10 plays later Tanner scored on a 1-yard carry from Jacquez People.

The Rebels countered two minutes later when Josh McGee hit Anthony Atemon with a 10-yard scoring pass. Jared Spooner kicked the extra point to give the Rebels a 7-6 lead.

The same duo teamed up for the Rebels to score on a 37-yard pass. Spooner provided the extra point.

The Rattlers scored the next 22 points to lead 28-14.

Tim Mason scored on a 1-yard run and George Adams caught the points-after-pass from King with 5:18 left in the first half for Tanner. Peoples completed the first half scoring with a 9-yard run with 33 seconds left. Adams kicked the extra point to give Tanner a 21-14 advantage.

Mason scored on a 59-yard run with 8:11 left in the third quarter and Adams kicked the extra point for all the scoring that period.

The Rattlers had 216 yards on the ground and 83 yards in the air.