MIDLAND CITY — Going into Friday night’s game, Devin Scott knew he was going to get some running in.

The Straughn senior running back rushed for 251 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns to help lead the Tigers to a 29-20 victory over Dale County in the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state playoffs at Warrior Stadium.

Scott scored both of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter from 41 and 44 yards in the game that gave DCHS its first loss of the season.

SHS head football coach Trent Taylor said after senior linebacker Nick Stepp broke his leg last week during the first round, the team put junior Daryl George at defensive back, which led to Scott getting more touches. George and Scott have shared touches in the back field this season.

“Devin came in knowing he was going to have to play a lot more snaps offensively than the two and two we’ve done all year long with them,” Taylor said. “He did a great job. He rose up.”

Scott scored his 41-yard TD rush with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter and the Tigers led 22-13.

The Warriors got the ball back and quarterback Larry McMillian rushed 81 yards to Straughn’s 5, where two plays later, junior running back Jamarius Henderson scooted in from 4 yards with 9:30 on the clock. With the PAT, DCHS cut the lead to 22-20.

As they have done all year, the Tigers responded with a 65-yard drive that was highlighted by Scott’s second and eventual game-winning TD.

Scott ran through a crowded defensive front and found his way down the gridiron for the score with 6:20 to go.

Scott said he thought the Warriors were going to get him.

“I just came out of there,” he said. “I am just thankful for my linemen. They do it all for me. I couldn’t score if it wasn’t for them.”

On the win, Scott said the feeling is great.

“They play hard,” Scott said. “I have the most respect for them. That is the hardest team we have played all year.”

Taylor echoed what Scott said about the line.

“You can’t say enough about the offensive line,” the coach added. “That’s a very, very good football team that’s scored a lot of points and hasn’t given up a lot.”

With this victory, the Tigers improve to 9-2 on the season and will host Bayside Academy next week in their second straight trip to the state quarterfinals. The Admirals defeated Pike County 35-18 last night.

To start the game, both teams traded possessions. The Warriors drew first blood with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

Henderson broke through the line for a 54-yard touchdown rush, and with the PAT, DCHS led 7-0.

The Tigers’ defense held DCHS to two three and outs on the Warriors’ next offensive series.

SHS finally got on the board in the second quarter and took a lead it would never give up.

Straughn junior quarterback Rollin Kinsaul found wide receiver Keith Edgar for a 61-yard touchdown strike with 8:26 left in the first half, and with a successful 2-point conversion attempt, the Tigers led 8-7.

On the Warriors’ next offensive series, McMillian coughed up the ball after Scott knocked it out of his hands.

The Tigers took over at the DCHS 43, and George took over from there, running in from 43 yards with 7:00 left in the half.

SHS took a 15-7 lead to halftime.

Straughn’s defense held the Warriors to another three and out, and Kinsaul threw an interception to Dale County’s Octavius Cogburn to start play in the third quarter.

DCHS took advantage, driving down the field some 52 yards, where McMillian took it around the right corner for a 7-yard scoring rush with 5:06 on the clock. With the unsuccessful 2-point conversion, the Warriors trailed only 15-13.

The Tigers drove the field 60 yards until Kinsaul threw another interception with 30.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

After the interception play, Henderson had to be helped off the field after getting knocked down by a Straughn player.

With this development, the Tigers held the Warriors to another three and out and afterward, Scott scored his first touchdown of the night from the 41.

Taylor said when Henderson went down, the game definitely turned in the Tigers’ favor.

“He’s a tough kid, obviously,” the coach said. “He came right back out there and he didn’t tote it as much. Still, the decoy factor was there.

“I can’t say enough about the way our kids responded there,” he said. “It was huge.”

George finished with 68 yards on eight carries and a score.