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On a night where Pelham celebrated the final game for the Class of 2025, Fort Payne pulled away from the Panthers in the second half to finish the regular season. (For the Reporter/Tracy Wood Franklin)

By STEPHEN DAWKINS | Special to the Reporter

PELHAM – The visiting Fort Payne Wildcats broke open a 14-3 halftime lead for a 38-10 win over the Pelham Panthers on Nov. 1 at Ned Bearden Stadium.

Pelham was forced to punt on the first possession of the game, but then the Panthers intercepted a Fort Payne pass.

PHS could not capitalize on the extra possession, however, and punted again.

A 40-yard touchdown pass by Fort Payne (8-2) represented the first points of the game, and the point after gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with about five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

With less than a minute to go in the first quarter, Pelham’s Jake Garner kicked a field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.

Fort Payne struck again with a long pass play in the second quarter. This time, it was a 30-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-3 after the extra point.

A couple of minutes into the second half, a 1-yard rushing touchdown made the lead 20-3, and the two-point conversion increased the advantage to 22-3 in favor of Fort Payne.

The Panthers were driving to score, but a fumble was recovered by Fort Payne and returned 90 yards for a Fort Payne touchdown. After the extra point, the score was 29-3.

Pelham scored with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass that made it 29-10 after the extra point.

A Fort Payne safety made the score 31-10 in the fourth quarter, and a 20-yard rushing touchdown with about four minutes on the clock concluded the scoring and sealed the 38-10 victory for the Wildcats.

Dylan Smith was 21-of-37 for 243 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Arnold caught the lone touchdown of the day as he went for three catches and 44 yards. Jacob Gibbs was Smith’s top receiver with seven catches for 103 yards.

On the ground, Kalib Porter ran the ball 15 times for 65 yards in his final high school game.

The loss wraps up Pelham’s season with a 1-9 record.

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