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By STEPHEN DAWKINS | Special to the Reporter

EUTAW – A late pick-six ended the Vincent Yellow Jackets’ comeback hopes in a 32-24 loss at Greene County on Friday.

“Our kids didn’t quit,” coach Lucas Weatherford said. “Now we have to focus on finishing the season the right way, trying to get healthy, refocus a little bit. We still have everything in front of us.”

The Yellow Jackets (7-2 overall and 4-2 in Class 2A, Region 5) had trouble containing Greene County running back Ronald Wilder, who broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.

The point-after was no good so the score was 6-0.

Vincent answered with an eight-play drive capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Lane Mims to Landon Archer.

An extra point by Daniel Campos gave the visitors a 7-6 lead.

The Tigers (5-4, 3-3) scored twice in the second quarter to build an 18-7 lead.

With time winding down before the intermission, Casen Fields led an 11-play drive, completing four passes in six attempts  to get the Yellow Jackets in field goal range. Campos was good to pull VMHS to within one score of the lead at 18-10.

In the third quarter, a pair of promising Vincent drives ended with turnovers–one fumble and one interception.
Greene County turned one of the turnovers into points to start the fourth quarter, extending its lead to 24-10.

Fields then engineered another long drive, and this time, he ended it himself with a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 24-17 after the extra point.

The VMHS defense got a stop, but the ensuing punt was ruled down at the Vincent 1-yard line. The Yellow Jackets tried to run the ball to give themselves some breathing room, but Greene County stuffed the play in the end zone for a safety and 26-17 lead.

Vincent’s defense came up big again, recovering a fumble near midfield to give the ball back to the offense.
Fields capitalized on the turnover, running in the touchdown to cut the deficit to 26-24.

VMHS took possession of the ball with a chance to grab the lead, but an interception with about three minutes remaining in the game was returned about 45 yards for a touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets stopped the 2-point conversion attempt and had the ball back with a chance to possibly tie the game.

However, a scramble by Fields on fourth down came up just short of the line to gain, sealing the win for the Tigers.

Fields rushed for 125 yards and completed eight passes in 18 attempts for 90 more yards. Mims was 2-for-5 passing with a TD. Phoenix Maxwell had four catches for 37 yards.

The Yellow Jackets host Class 5A Montevallo on Nov. 1 before hosting in the first round of the state playoffs.