Contrary to popular belief, there is a distinct difference between losing and experiencing heartbreaking defeat.

That difference could be seen on the faces of Sand Rock players and coaches as they walked off Russell Jacoway Field last Friday.

By virtue of a 32-yard field goal in double overtime, Section escaped Lookout Mountain with a 10-7 Class 2A, Region 7 victory.

The win moved the Lions to 7-1, 5-1, while the Wildcats fell to 5-3, 4-2.

Sand Rock travels to Piedmont on Friday to decide the region’s third and fourth place playoff spots.

“This is a tough one to take,” said Wildcat head coach Russell Jacoway. “After [Section] scored on their first possession, our defense stepped it up the rest of the game.”

Cody White led the Lions on the ground with 78 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Stormy Stevens hit on 4-of-8 passes for 55 yards.

Jake Thompson led the Wildcats with 72 yards on 13 touches.

Josh Stimpson completed 9-of-20 passes for 86 yards.

Andy Andrew caught six passes for 69 yards.

Tyler Daniel had seven tackles, followed by Ryan Oliver with six and Thompson and Justin McGatha with five each.

On the game’s first possession, Section traveled 65 yards on 10 plays for the score.

With 6:03 left in the first quarter, White punched it in from the 3-yard line. Colton McCrary was successful on the PAT, making the score 7-0.

Both defenses then flexed their respective muscles, turning the game into a regional slugfest.

The first half ended with three interceptions in an eight-play span.

Tommy Bolton intercepted an errant Sand Rock pass, only to have Brian Dorsett intercept for the Wildcats to regain possession.

But Cory Crawford picked off another Sand Rock pass as the clock ran out on the second quarter.

As the third quarter shifted to the fourth, the Wildcats plugged away at the Lions, looking to tie the game.

On second and goal from the 9, Stimpson scrambled to the right, found open space to the goal line and lunged at the cone for the score.

With 3:12 left in the game, Justin Mackey nailed the PAT to tie the score at 7-7.

Both offenses had chan-ces to end the game in regulation, but stingy defensive play forced overtime.

With both teams having four downs to score from the 10-yard line, matters looked promising for Sand Rock as Section fumbled on the first play from scrimmage.

But a 24-yard Wildcat field goal bounced off the right upright to leave the game tied at 7-7.

The Lions were in the catbird seat going into the second overtime, as they intercepted a Sand Rock pass in the end zone.

All the Lions needed was a field goal, but the Rock would not make it easy. Good defense and a few penalties pushed the Lions back to the Wildcat 15-yard line.

But on fourth down, McCrary lumbered onto the field for the 32-yard game-winner.

“I thought we had it blocked,” said Jacoway. “We had a guy break lose up the middle, and I thought he had it.”