Sneads Wins Over Cottondale in Thriller
The Sneads Pirates made the short trip west on Highway 90 Friday night to face off against long-time county rival, the Cottondale Hornets. The atmosphere inside the Hornets’ goalsposts was electric, Cottondale coming in fresh off an undefeated 9-0 regular season, while Sneads entered determined to prove that their rebuilding year was behind them.
From the opening tip, it was clear this wasn’t going to be just another ballgame, it was a battle of pride, grit, and momentum swings. When the final buzzer sounded, it was the visiting Pirates who emerged victorious, stunning the Hornets with a 33-28 win in a thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Sneads struck first to put points on the board, taking an early 7-0 lead. Cottondale, not about to let the momentum slip away at home, answered quickly. Though the Hornets missed their point-after attempt, they cut the lead to 7-6. That only fueled the Pirates, who came storming back with back-to-back touchdowns, stretching their advantage to 20-6 with just under five minutes left before halftime.
The Hornets, however, were far from done. Cottondale came out of the locker room fired up, and in a flurry of plays, they evened the score at 20 apiece, sending their fans into a frenzy. But Sneads silenced the crowd with another touchdown to regain the lead, 27-20, with just two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
In a dramatic turn, Cottondale struck again before the quarter closed, snatching a 28-27 lead and putting all the pressure back on the Pirates heading into the final frame.
That’s when Sneads dug deep. With six minutes left to play, the Pirates found the end zone once more, reclaiming the lead 33-28. Their defense held strong in the closing minutes, denying the Hornets any chance at a comeback and sealing a hard-fought road victory.
It was a statement win for Sneads, one that showcased their resilience against a Cottondale team that had dominated throughout the previous season. Fans will be talking about this one for a long time.
For the full story, including player highlights and post-game reactions, see Thursday’s edition of The Times.