For a little over three quarters in the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Forrest and the host Fayetteville Tigers battled to an even 14-14 draw before the Rockets exploded with 21 unanswered points to win the regular season finale 35-14.

"That was a very good football team with a lot of speed and they were tough to tackle," said Forrest head coach Brian Coleman. "These last two games have been tough and I hope it will get us ready for the playoffs. From now on you have to learn to fight for four quarters and not give up and we did that tonight."

Playoffs ahead

It was the fourth district victory in row and the culmination of three straight road wins for Forrest, who finished in second place in District 9A and were rewarded with a three-seed in the Class 2A playoffs and a first-round game at "The Rock" in Chapel Hill Friday night at 7 p.m. versus No. 6 seeded Decatur County Riverside (6-4).

"We have been away for a while now and our goal was to get these seniors another home game and I think we did that tonight," said Coleman.

The Rockets (7-3) will be making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and are eying some revenge on Riverside, who handed Forrest a season-ending 14-10 last second loss in the 2010 quarterfinals to the Panthers in Decaturville.

Jitters disappear

Forrest was a little jittery to begin the game and quickly gave the ball back to the Tigers after three plays, but the tide turned when the Rockets forced a three-and-out that led to a bad punt by the Tigers, giving FHS good field position at the Fayetteville 27-yard line.

Three plays later, Zach McClendon converted the field position gain with a six-yard touchdown run and Chris Haggard added the extra point.

The Tigers answered the call, driving 76 yards in just nine plays with the capper coming on a Dorian Thompson 32 yard TD scamper, but the two-point conversion pass attempt was incomplete, making it a 7-6 ballgame with 3:03 remaining in the first quarter.

The Rockets looked like they would score again on their next drive that ended on a turnover deep in Tiger territory when they fumbled the ball away and Thompson recovered at the Fayetteville 10-yard line.

Forrest's defense held, forcing a Tiger three-and-out, but the Rockets went backwards on offense and had to punt after three straight negative plays.

Great punt

Haggard's ensuing punt was a laser, trapping the Tigers inside their 10-yard line and on first down, Fayetteville quarterback Trevonte Emmons rolled out to pass in the flat, but Forrest's Logan Hollingsworth flashed in front of the receiver to pick the ball off and rumble into the end zone for a touchdown.

Haggard's extra point kick was true again, giving the Rockets a 14-6 lead with 5:49 remaining in the first half.

Fayetteville re-grouped on offense, driving deep into Forrest territory before the Rockets came up with another drive killer when Cage Hargrove fell on a loose ball at the Rocket 22.

The Rockets turned the ball back over to the Tigers late in the second quarter, but the half ended with Forrest still holding a 14-6 lead.

Close quarter

There was no third quarter scoring as both squads toughened up on the defensive side of the ball with each team gaining just two first downs apiece in the period.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Haggard boomed another perfect punt that pinned the Tigers back at their 7-yard line.

After a first down run by Trey Emmons picked up four yards, Thompson burst through the Forrest defensive front and raced 89 yards untouched for a touchdown.

The Tigers went for the two-point conversion and Trevonte Evans ran the ball in to re-knot the game at 14-14 with 10:58 remaining in the contest.

Tide turns

Forrest went three-and-out after the score, but Haggard came to the rescue again via a perfectly placed punt that stopped rolling at the Tiger 3-yard line.

The special teams gem paid off when Tyler McClendon dove on a loose ball the next play before scoring from nine yards out against a stunned Tigers' defense to put the Rockets in front 21-14.

Haggard's spectacular night continued on a booming kickoff that gave Fayetteville the ball on their own 7-yard line.

The Tigers picked up one first down before Forrest held the line to force a punt with five and half minutes to go in the game.

Rockets on the

run

Tyler McClendon went to work on the ground, ripping off runs of 19 and four yards before Jacob Daughrity took off on a 19-yard scamper down to the Tiger 16-yard line.

Tyler McClendon ran the rock three more times with the final touch producing a 9-yard touchdown run and Haggard's extra point split the uprights, giving the Rockets a 28-14 lead with 2:52 left in the game.

Just seven seconds later, Hollingsworth came up with his second interception of the game at the Fayetteville 12-yard line.

"Logan Hollingsworth had one heck of a game," said Coleman. "He's a good kid, we stay on him and he smiles a lot, takes hard coaching and just does a great job for us," said Coleman.

On second down, McClendon danced into the Fayetteville end zone, putting a lid on the three-touchdown triumph for the Rockets.

Stats

Tyler McClendon finished with 117 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns to lead the Rocket rushing attack, while Zach McClendon (TD) added 37 yards, Daughrity gained 25 yards, Thaddeus Reyes ran for 17 yards, and Austin Harmon gained eight yards.

Reyes went 3-5 with no interceptions, completing passes to Zach McClendon (20 yds.), Brandon Anderson (10 yds.), and Daughrity (4 yds.).

"McClendon plays two of the most physical positions on the football team at middle linebacker and fullback and he's getting beat up every single game and comes back every week on Monday ready to go, and in that fourth quarter, he really starting pounding kids," said Coleman. "Tyler is just a great kid and a great leader and we are glad to have him on our football team."

On the defensive side of the ball, Blake Leonard led the Rockets with a dozen solo tackles, while Tyler McClendon had 10 solos and five assists, Zach McClendon came up with four solos and three assists, and Hollingsworth finished his banner night with four tackles, a sack, and two interceptions (TD).

Thompson led the Tiger offense with 174 yards on 12 carries and 2 touchdowns.