By STEPHEN DAWKINS/Special to the Reporter

THORSBY — Visiting Montevallo on Friday picked up its first win of the season, 25-7, at the expense of Thorsby.

Both teams relied on their rushing attacks, as neither had the services of their regular starting quarterbacks.

Montevallo’s big-play ability made the difference.

After three possessions to open the game that saw neither squad pick up a first down, Montevallo converted a fourth down-and-six play with an 18-yard touchdown run by Chase Inabinette. Inabinette fumbled the football before he crossed the goal line but was able to recover the ball in the end zone. The point-after try was unsuccessful, but the Bulldogs (1-7 overall, 1-5 region) led 6-0.

Thorsby, meanwhile, earned its first first down of the game on a run by Jagger Cook as time expired in the first quarter.
The Rebels (1-7, 0-6) mounted their only sustained drive of the game midway through the second quarter.

Donnie Hoffman scored on a quarterback keeper from six yards out with 5:42 remaining in the first half. David Combs added the extra point to give THS its first lead of the game, but it would be short-lived.

Montevallo’s ensuing possession began at the Thorsby 33-yard line after two consecutive kickoffs went out of bounds.
On the second play of the possession, the Montevallo ballcarrier ran it in from 34-yards out. A two-point conversion try was unsuccessful.

With a little more than 1 minute remaining before halftime, Thorsby faced a fourth-and-short near midfield. The Rebels elected to try for the first down, but the snap was fumbled and the ball turned over on downs.

On the very next play, Montevallo’s Inabinette passed to Michael McKenzie for 40 yards, and the Bulldogs punched it in on a Meko Brown 3-yard run with 13 seconds on the clock. Caleb Cottingham added the extra point to make the score 19-7 at halftime.

Neither team could generate any offense in the second half until Montevallo scored on a two-yard run with 1:36 left to play in the game.