Demopolis used another of its competition days Thursday when it travelled to Leroy for a 7-on-7 competition against Linden, Citronelle, Millry, Thomasville and the host Bears.

“I thought we were in pretty good shape,” Demopolis High head coach Tom Causey said. “I like how we picked each other up when something bad happened.”

The Tigers opened the day with a 25-19 win over Linden. In that contest, junior quarterback Ben Pettus completed seven passes for 50 yards with three touchdowns and one extra-point. Jeremy Wallace hauled in a 15-yard catch for a touchdown. Damarcus James had a six-yard TD catch while Anthony Hardy caught three passes including a touchdown strike and an extra-point conversion. Larry Cobb and Fred Irby each made a catch in the game.

Linebacker Michael Davis had an interception returned for a touchdown at the end of the game to seal the victory for Demopolis. The play was the bright spot on the day for Davis.

“He didn’t have a real good day (Thursday),” Causey said of Davis, who is adapting to the middle linebacker position and the responsibility of defensive captain after replacing the graduated Greg Irvin. “He’s got to make sure that he’s getting all the calls.”

Causey went on to express his confidence in Davis and his belief that the junior will be effective in the middle of the Tigers’ defense this season.

In Demopolis’ second game of the day, the Tigers defeated Thomasville 14-13. Pettus completed 11 passes for 44 yards with one touchdown and one point-after play. Hardy led the way against Thomasville, racking up six catches for 22 yards and an extra point. Wallace caught two balls for 10 yards and a touchdown. Cobb, Irby and James each had a reception. Tremaine Irby picked off a pass after it was deflected by Willie Wallace. Hardy also picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown.

In game three, Demopolis fell 18-13 to Citronelle. Pettus completed 11 passes for 83 yards, two touchdowns and an extra point. James caught three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown in that contest. Dalvin Harris had two catches for 17 yards. Hardy had a four-yard touchdown catch. Irby and and Jerry Campbell each had a grab in the game.

Demopolis lost game four to Millry 24-20 when Pettus’ lone interception of the day was returned for a touchdown.

“He looked really good,” Causey said of Pettus. “He threw one interception. He threw the ball exceptionally well. I’ve been really pleased with his decision making.”

Pettus completed 12 passes for 82 yards, three touchdowns and two extra points against Millry. His favorite targets in that affair were Cobb and Wallace, who each caught three passes. Cobb had 15 yards and an extra point while Wallace had 10 yards, two scores and one extra point conversion. Hardy and James each caught two passes while Harris had one. Irby had one catch for 28 yards and a touchdown.

In the final game, Demopolis defeated Leroy 26-20. Pettus completed 11 passes for 122 yards, four touchdowns and an extra point against the Bears.

Wallace had three catches for 12 yards and an extra point while Hardy had a trio of snags for 22 yards and a touchdown. Cobb had two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown while James had a pair of receptions for 32 yards and a score. Irby’s only catch of the game went for 30 yards and a touchdown.

“Offensively, we’ve got to run better routes,” Causey said of his team’s work on the offensive side of the ball. “We didn’t run very clean routes. I was pleased with us though. We’ve got to get a little better at route running, but we played well.”

In total on the day, Pettus completed 52 passes for 381 yards, 13 touchdowns and six extra points. The Tigers’ primary struggle of the afternoon came on the defensive unit.

“(We have to work on) the angles we’re taking on defense, our communication skills on defense,” Causey said. “We’ve got to talk to each other better.”

While Causey was pleased with his team’s overall effort, he explained that such competitions offer very little about which to get excited.

“I don’t really put a whole lot of stock in them,” he said of the scrimmages. “It’s good for competition instead of going against each other all day long. But I don’t put a whole lot of stock in it. It is exactly what it is, two-hand touch football.”