VALLEY HEAD – Fred Hicks swatted away a Gaylesville field goal attempt late in the game, helping to preserve Valley Head’s first victory of the high school football season on Friday. The host Tigers defeated Gaylesville 28-27 in a Class 1A, Region 7, game.

Valley Head (1-3 overall and in Region 7) started the scoring early with Ben Kirby’s 65-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Cuzzort just 12 seconds into the game. The Tigers extended their lead on a 21-yard pass from Kirby to Dallas Gregory with 2:58 to go in the first quarter.

Kirby’s 2-point pass to Casey Gregory made it 14-0.

Gaylesville (0-4, 0-3) answered with a 33-yard touchdown pass by Cole Murphy to Malachii Dutton. Murphy’s point after made it 14-7 after one quarter.

Valley Head extended its lead with Kirby’s 3-yard touchdown run at the 7:50 mark of the second quarter. The 20-7 lead held up through halftime.

In the third quarter, Gaylesville started a bit of a comeback with Murphy’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Dutton. Murphy’s PAT made it 20-14 Tigers after three quarters.

Valley Head tacked on a 7-yard touchdown run by Kirby, followed by Dallas Gregory’s two-point run with 10:45 to play. That made the score 28-14, but after that, the Tigers had to hang on.

The Trojans’ John David Jennings caught a 6-yard scoring pass from Murphy with 7:26 to play. Gaylesville moved even closer on Jennings’ 63-yard touchdown run with 4:59 left. The Trojans were an extra point away from tying the game, but a Valley Head penalty made the Trojans decide to go for the 2-point conversion. Gaylesville, however, was unsuccessful on the attempt, keeping Valley Head in front 28-27.

The Trojans were driving again when Murphy lined up for a 40-yard field goal attempt with just 61 seconds to play. Murphy’s kick was blocked by Hicks, and the Tigers held on for the victory.

Cuzzort rushed 12 times for 172 yards to lead the Tigers’ ground game.

Jennings led all rushers with 209 yards on 27 carries. He also led the Trojan defense with 13 tackles, including three for lost yardage.

Dutton caught four passes for 109 yards and two scores. He was the favorite target for Murphy, who was 9 of 16 for 140 yards and three touchdowns.

Kirby was 4 of 12 passing for 99 yards for the Tigers.

Gaylesville looks to get into the win column on Friday by hosting Coosa Christian. Valley Head hosts Waterloo.