Michael Cummings
It took the Bearcats 46 years to get back to No. 1. Apparently they want to stay there for a spell.
Cullman High quarterback Tyler Caldwell threw for 358 yards and two scores, Connor Adams piled up 208 total yards and the Bearcats routed Mortimer Jordan 48-14 on homecoming Friday night at Oliver Woodard Stadium.
The win was Cullman’s first as a No. 1-ranked team since 1962, the year Cullman won its last state championship. But as lopsided as the final score was, the visiting Blue Devils pushed Mark Britton’s team to the limit in the first half.
“They’re a good football team,” said Britton, who improved to 61-26 at Cullman. “I’m really proud of my defense. That was a big, tough offensive line they played against.”
Cullman raced to a 14-0 lead with two very different drives to open the game.
On its first possession, Cullman converted two third downs on its way to a 12-play, 76-yard drive that took 4:04 off the clock. Facing fourth-and-1 on the Mortimer Jordan 8, Bryan Steele took a direct snap eight yards for the opening score.
Jared Knight’s kick made it 7-0.
Four plays later, the Bearcats were in business again, and they wasted little time doubling their lead.
Starting on the Bearcats’ 35, Caldwell went 4-for-6 on the drive, including a 32-yard strike to Adams that put Cullman on the Mortimer Jordan 1. Adams punched it in on the next snap for a 14-0 lead with 4:42 left in the first.
“We had some wrinkles in our offense that Jordan had no answer for,” said Britton. “We didn’t want to stay with any of them too long, because we knew they would adjust.”
Mortimer Jordan’s offense responded on its next drive, going 67 yards in 13 plays — and taking 6:07 off the clock.
On third-and-20 at the Cullman 25, Blue Devils tight end Daniel Swope caught a tipped ball in the back of the end zone to stun the home crowd and pull the visitors to within 14-7.
After a Cullman punt, the Blue Devils marched right back down the field — this time riding tailback Dantrell Purifoy for 81 yards on six carries, including a 37-yard scamper to the end zone.
Caleb Harper’s extra point tied the game at 14 with 5:05 left in the half, but it would be a long five minutes before the Blue Devils would make it to the locker room.
Cullman responded with its next possession — sparked by Adams’ 4-yard run on fourth-and-2 at the Mortimer Jordan 39. One play later, Steele took another direct snap for another touchdown, this time a 35-yard effort.
“I think we ran a lead play, and we brought in one of our defensive players to block,” Adams said of the fourth-down conversion. “I looked up and saw some of the receivers blocking and it was easy from there.”
The Bearcats got the ball back with 1:15 left in the half, and needed only 1:10 to score.
Caldwell completed all five passes on the drive, including the killer, a 6-yard strike to Drew Forrest for a 27-14 lead with :05 to play in the half.
“That was a big, big play heading into the locker room,” said Britton. “We work on our two-minute drill every single day, so when the kids get in that situation, they know how to execute.”
After the break, Cullman got touchdown runs from Steele — his third of the night on three carries — and Kyle Johnson. Caldwell added his second score, a 32-yard hookup with Riley Stewart, halfway through the third quarter.
The Bearcats senior finished 23-for 35 on the night with 358 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Adams, who caught nine passes — mostly screens — for 178 yards.
“Most of it was on the slow screen,” said Adams, who also rushed for 30 yards on eight carries. “It’s my favorite play in the book. It’s open field every single time.”
Six other Bearcats caught at least one pass, led by Forest with 58 yards on five receptions. Stewart finished with 70 yards on four catches.
For Mortimer Jordan, Purifoy gained 125 yards with one score on 17 carries.
As a team, the Blue Devils gained just 229 yards and nine first downs. They were penalized 16 times for 162 yards.
