The Guntersville Wildcats fell to the Boaz Pirates by a score of 21-14 on Phil Isom Field at Chorba-Lee Stadium on Thursday night.

The Wildcats offense failed to find a rhythm as the defenses stayed busy trying to contain a tricky Pirate rushing attack.

Reese said his team had several chances to get points off turnovers early in the game, but the Wildcats offense didn’t get into the endzone.

Guntersville got the ball inside the Pirates 30 yard line four different times without getting any points.

“The big turning point of the game was the big touchdown run right before the half with less than a minute to go, instead of going in tied we went down 14-7,” Reese said.

Reese was proud of the way his team refused to lay down and fought back in the fourth quarter.

“Kids could have lain down, but we fought back hard and scored to bring us within seven,” Reese said. “Then we held them on defense and got the ball back and drove it again, but couldn’t get in the endzone.”

The Guntersville offense rushed for 80 and threw for 128 for a total of 208 yards, while Boaz combined for 374 yards offensively.

Guntersville only turned the ball over once, while Boaz lost the ball four times.

Game Recap

Boaz got on the scoreboard first on a 27 yard touchdown pass with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter.

Guntersville’s first score of the year came when Michael Dahlke scooped up a Pirate fumble and returned it 24 yards to the endzone with 9:29 remaining in the second quarter.

The game appeared to be headed to halftime in a deadlock, but Boaz busted a big run on the Wildcat defense to score with less than a minute remaining in the half.

Boaz received the second half kickoff and put together a quick scoring drive to make it 21-7 with 0:28 left in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Guntersville offense got things going and put together a seven play, 73 yard scoring drive.

Chris Daniel hit Malcolm Moore for a 37 yard touchdown reception. Hunter Kennamers extra point made it 21-14 with 8:31 remaining in the game.

Guntersville got the ball back after a missed Boaz field goal and launched a drive to tie the game.

Daniels completed a series of passed to McAnally good for gains of 12, 9 and 11 yards and then hit Moore on an 18 yarder to get Guntersville down to Boaz’s 29.

The Boaz defense tightened and the Drive ended with Daniel being sacked on fourth down.

With Guntersville having no time outs the Pirates took a knee to run out the clock.

Daniel completed 12 of 24 passing attempts with a touchdown.

Daniel led the Wildcats in rushing with 12 carries for 42 yards. Chris Gunther carried the ball 12 times for 28 yards. Tyrek Minson had 6 yards on 3 carries.

Malcolm Moore caught 5 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Nick McAnally had five catches for 40 yards. Tyler Parsons had one catch for 11 yards and Minson picked up 8 yards on one reception.