PHOTO BY ARTHUR MCLEAN Artemus Gaines (17) and Rayshawn Cairl (9) on offense for the Thomasville JV team in recent action. The Thomasville High School Junior Varsity Tigers traveled to Demopolis this past Monday, September 29, to take on the Demopolis High School Junior Varsity in the second game of a middle school / junior varsity doubleheader. When the final whistle had blown the Thomasville JV had dropped their first game of the season, losing to Demopolis 8 - 6.

In the game Thomasville got on the score board first when they took their opening drive of the game 65 yards for a score. Michael Thornton culminated the drive with a 53 yard scamper to pay dirt. The two point conversion attempt failed but Thomasville had a 6 - 0 lead with 4:03 remaining in the first quarter.

With the Thomasville defense playing lights out, the Thomasville offense had two more first half scoring opportunities end up with no points. The first came at the 4:58 mark of the second quarter when Demopolis intercepted a pass in the endzone to end a Thomasville threat. The second came with :12 remaining before half time when the Demopolis defense fell on a Thomasville fumble at the Demopolis seven yard line.

In the second half the Demopolis offense got cranked up on their first possession of the half driving the ball 60 yard for a score. The drive ended on a nine yard touchdown pass with 5:42 left in the third quarter. The two point conversion attempt was good giving Demopolis the 8 - 6 lead that would ultimately become the final.

The Thomasville offense appeared to be on their way to taking the lead again midway the fourth quarter when an untimely penalty disrupted the rhythm of a drive that would end on downs at the Demopolis 24, with 5:29 left in the final frame.

Thomasville's final opportunity to overcome the deficit ended with a fumble at the Demopolis 34 yard line as the final minute of the game ticked off. The fumble occurred on a play that was marred by a controversial face mask call that appeared to have been called on the wrong team.

With the loss the Thomasville JV falls to 2 - 1 on the season with two games remaining on their schedule. The first of those final two contests was scheduled for Monday, October 6, when they were to play the second game of a middle school / juni or varsity double header in Grove Hill.