YORK &045; It was like a slap in the face or the jolt of ice cold water. The Demopolis High School Tigers were moving down the field in their first drive Friday night at Sumter County. After two efficient passes to Bart Pettus (one on fourth and 10), DHS was set up on the Wildcat eight-yard line ready to score.

However, Sumter County’s Marco Mitchell had other ideas, and he picked off quarterback Devin Goodwin’s pass and ran it back 98 yards for a touchdown. With 8:40 left in the first quarter, Sumter had struck first. The point-after-touchdown kick was no good, and the score was 6-0.

The many Demopolis fans gathered at the York, Alabama stadium were shocked. They would be surprised again when Mitchell picked off another Goodwin pass when DHS was attempting a fake punt play.

However, the Wildcats were not able to move the ball. They had to recover their own fumble, were called for a clipping penalty and Dontrell Miller said hello with a great sack.

Devin Goodwin shook off the interceptions and got to work with a long pass to Colby Roberts, and Dustin Gracie ended the drive with a two-yard TD run with 2:53 left in the first.

The PAT attempt by Goodwin was no good, but a penalty on Sumter provided DHS the chance to try a two-point conversion. Goodwin ran into the end zone, and Demopolis led 8-6.

Ezell Braxton made the first of many outstanding hits on the ensuing kickoff. There was great kick coverage by Demopolis throughout the game including hits by Braxton and Miller. Braxton will need stitches from a cut he received on his eyelid.

The Wildcats gave DHS the gift of a fumble on their 21-yard line with 1:46 left in the first.

Goodwin quickly connected with Pettus for a 20-yard TD pass with 1:41 left. Jonathan Sommers scored a two-point conversion, and the score was DHS 16-SC 6.

Sumter had a bad snap on a punt with 10:49 left in the second quarter, and DHS had the ball on their 10-yard line. Goodwin passed 10 yards to Michael Lee for a TD, and the PAT by Seth Basinger was also good.

Demopolis led 23-6.

The Wildcats fumbled the kickoff. Goodwin went back to work with a nice pass to Jonathan Sommers and then Dustin Gracie ran 13 yards for a TD. Basinger’s PAT was good, and with 9:26 left in the first half, DHS was up 30-6.

Another bad snap by Sumter gave DHS the ball on their six-yard line. Demopolis defender Justin Jackson was injured on the bad snap play and likely has a torn ACL, said trainer DHS Don Spruell. They expected to have him examined Saturday.

DHS quickly scored again with a Rod Jones’ one-yard TD run. Demopolis had their own bad snap on the PAT, and it was no good. With 6:36 left in the first half, the score was DHS 36-SC 6.

Sumter County later fumbled a punt return but got it back deep in their territory. Linebacker Guss Fitts sacked the Wildcats for a safety with 3:39 left in the first half. Demopolis led 38-6.

After the safety, Sumter had to quick kick which gave DHS the ball on the Wildcat 31-yard line.

Goodwin passed 32 yards to Bart Pettus for another touchdown, and the PAT by Devin Goodwin was good. The lead grew to 45-6.

Linebacker Clarke Kerby recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touchdown with 2:33 left in the first half. The two-point conversion was no good, and the score at halftime was 51-6.

Kerby would recover another fumble in the third quarter, and Gracie would score a eight-yard TD run with 11:01 left in the third. Goodwin’s PAT was good, and the score was 58-6.

After an interception by Braxton, Miller came in as quarterback. The Tigers would score their last touchdown with a four-yard run by Calvin Bryant. The PAT was good, and with 6:30 left in the third, DHS led 65-6.

Wildcat fans finally got another score when Marco Mitchell ran back a fumble 64 yards for a TD with 7:45 left in the fourth. Mitchell’s two-point conversion attempt was also successful. The final score was Demopolis 65-Sumter County 14.

Demopolis travels to Bibb County Friday, and Sumter County hosts Midfield.