By Blake Deshazo
The Selma Times-Journal

ORRVILLE — Keith (4-4, 3-2) has never lost to R.C. Hatch (3-5, 2-3) in football in the 27 times the two teams have played each other, and that didn’t change Friday night as the Bears came from behind to beat the Bobcats 34-22.

The schools haven’t played since 2009, but Keith head coach Harry Crum was glad to renew the rivalry Friday.

“It was a battle,” Crum said. “It reminded me of homecoming last year when we played against Loachapoka when we were down exactly the same way.”

Domonique Jones scored two late touchdowns to break a 22-22 tie late and to give the Bears an important win in class 2A, region 4. A win next week versus Thorsby would clinch a playoff spot for Keith.

“Domonique came alive. When he gets going he is hard to deal with,” Crum said. “He can take a game over.”

After going three and out on their first possession, the Bears capitalized on a muffed punt by the Bobcats that was recovered by Keith’s Eric Smiley.

Keith struck first with an 11-yard touchdown run from Jeashan Black, but it didn’t take long for the Bobcats to answer back from a six-point deficit.

Shamad Pitts put his own 11-yard touchdown on the board, taking the lead for the Bobcats, 7-6.

Keith looked to go up, but a 40-yard touchdown run from Domonique Jones was called back due to a holding call.

Terrence Underwood disrupted R.C. Hatch’s next possession when he forced a fumble and recovered it in positive territory for the Bears.

The Bears were in position to take the lead back, but the Bobcats defense came up with a big stop inside the 5-yard line.

An R.C. Hatch 7-6 lead at halftime and a pep talk brought the Bears to life in the second half.

“I went in and gave them a little motivational speech, and some of the other coaches were a little bit motivational, and it seemed to inspire them,” Crum said. “A couple of my old players came back … and talked with them, and I think it lit a fire under them.”

R.C. Hatch took a 14-6 lead early in the third when Ka’cee Goodwin ran the ball in from 17 yards out.

A 37-yard pass from Jared Edwards to Black put the Bears in a good spot.

Jones pounded the football into the end zone for his first score of the night, and Malik Gloss added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14.

Pitts carried the Bobcats down the field with run after run, and Dequindre Ward capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Goodwin, to regain the lead, 22-14.

Keith answered back with a 14-yard touchdown run from Jones.

Tyrone Lumpkin took a shovel pass from Edwards in for the two-point conversion, tying the game at 22 apiece.

The Bears never looked back after recovering an R.C. Hatch fumble in Keith territory.

Jones two more touchdowns late padded the Bears’ lead, making it 34-22.

Crum said Friday’s win puts the Bears in third place in the region 3. He knows how important next week’s game against Thorsby is.

“Every game is a must win, so we’re going in and tackling it like that,” Crum said.