CAPSHAW – After dominating most of the second half, Tanner’s defense wasn’t about to East Limestone capitalize on a turnover and tie the score up late in the fourth quarter.

With the Class 4A, No. 10 ranked Indians needing an extra point to tie the score with around two-minutes remaining in the game, the Class 2A, No. 6 ranked Rattlers’ penetrated the line of scrimmage and blocked Gil Johnson’s kick to preserve the 28-27 win.

“We knew what we had to do,” Tanner senior Cliff Bunch said. “There was no way we could let them tie the game up there.”

Tanner took an early lead when George Adams made a 27-yard field goal early in the first quarter.

East Limestone struck back when Klint Kali scored on a 2-yard run. Johnson missed the extra point.

The Indians scored again on their next offensive series when quarterback Chad Dewitt hit LaGarius Mayberry on a 60-yard touchdown pass. Dewitt hit Kali in the back of the endzone for the two-point conversion.

“They had our backs against the wall,” Tanner senior Rod Byrd said. “We had to step it up.”

Byrd said Tanner needed to establish its running game to get offensive momentum. That’s exactly what the Rattlers did.

After Tanner running back Tim Mason broke 36-yard run, quarterback Demarcus King hit Byrd for an 18-yard reception to get the Rattlers in the redzone. King capped of the drive when he rolled out of the pocket and carried the ball five yards for a touchdown. Adams’ extra point was good.

“They had a lot of speed on defense,” Tanner coach LaRon White said. “We had to spread the field to help create some things on offense.”

On the ensuing series, Bunch intercepted Dewitt on the Tanner 8-yard line. The Rattlers drove the football to the East Limestone 25-yard line after a big reception by Bunch, but settled for a 25-yard field goal by Adams to pull with one at the end of the half.

“I read the ball perfectly,” Bunch said. “When I saw him throw it, I just tried to break on the ball. When the ball was in the air, I jumped up and made the pick.”

After Adams recovered an East Limestone fumble on Indians’ first offensive series in the second half, King hit Byrd for a 41-yard touchdown pass. King found Byrd again for the two-point conversion, giving Tanner a 21-14 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Adams put a bone-crushing hit on East Limestone running back Jonathan Pinque to jar the ball loose and create a turnover. The Indians lost three fumbles in the game.

“Coach White challenged the defense to create turnovers this week,” Adams said. “Our goal was to force at least two fumbles. Our defense stepped up and came through.’

Tanner capitalized on the turnover when Jarquise Peoples scored on 1-yard run. Adams extra point was good.”

East Limestone shifted the momentum in the fourth quarter when Dewitt hit Hayden Scott on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Johnson’s extra point was good.

On the ensuing series Kali intercepted a King pass and returned the ball to the Tanner 12-yard line.

“Things started to shift our way in the fourth quarter,” East Limestone coach Jeff Pugh said. “I think we were starting to wear them down. Klint did everything he could to turn the game around.”

East Limestone took advantage of the Tanner turnover when Dewitt scored on a 1-yard run, but the Rattlers blocked Johnson’s extra point to preserve the win.

“It’s like I said all week, they’re a very good football team,” Pugh said. “Our guys played hard and got us into position to win, but a couple of early mistakes come back to bite us. Tanner was ready to play tonight. They are a very explosive team.”

King completed 12-of-19 passes with one interception for 163 yards.

Dewitt accounted for 50 of East Limestone’s 155 rushing yards.

“Our guys played hard and laid it on the line tonight,” White said. “This is a big win for us. We need the same type of effort when we travel to Addison to play another good football team.”