The Straughn Tigers (3-0, 2-0 in Class 3A, Region 1) came back from an 18-point deficit at halftime to come out with the win 31-30 over Cottage Hill Christian Friday night on the road. In the final seconds, Tanner Lee blocked a potential game-winning field goal by Cottage Hill.

“The kids showed a lot of character when we were down 24-6 at the half,” Tigers head coach Trent Taylor said. “We pulled together, but they have a good football team. I think it was just one of those kinds of games where we can look back at it at the end of the year and use it as a springboard.”

Cottage Hill got on board first in the first quarter with a 36-yard field goal to put them ahead 3-0.

With 5:36 left in the first quarter, Straughn’s Andrew Stokes ran the ball for a 10-yard touchdown to put them in the lead 6-3.

Cottage Hill scored three times in the second quarter on three passes from 8, 9 and 51 yards.

In the third quarter with 5:44 left on the play clock, Stokes did it again and ran the ball in for the touchdown to make it 24-12.

Also, with 2:41 left, Tigers quarterback Ryne Taylor hit Trae Bowen on fourth-and-goal from the 7-yard line and scored a touchdown to make it 24-18.

The Tigers tied the score in the fourth quarter when Stokes again carried the ball 8 yards for the touchdown.

Cottage Hill came back and scored with seven minutes left in the half, which made it 30-24.

With 3:27 remaining in the game, Ryne Taylor passed on third-and-13 to Eric Samuel for a 68-yard touchdown. Josh Dewrell kicked the extra point to make it 31-30.

Taylor was 12-for-24 passing for 288 yards, Stokes had 20 carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns. Straughn had 352 total yards on offense.

Straughn will play Bayside Academy in Straughn next week.