L.D. BRUCE FIELD —The visiting Gaston Bulldogs found themselves caught in the swath of a touchdown-bearing tornado Friday night in Cedar Bluff, as they lost to the playoff-bound Tigers, 48-14.

As with most catastrophic weather events, a calm preceded the wrath of Cedar Bluff's offensive storm. While perky pom-pom bearers spritely encouraged the partisan crowd, Gaston punted twice and Cedar Bluff once before any signs of the Bulldogs' impending demise crept over the horizon.

The first siren sounded with a three-play, 80-yard Cedar Bluff drive late in the first quarter. The Tigers scored on senior Zach Taylor's 43-yard scamper around left end. Senior Mando Williams's point-after made the score 7-0.

The forecast got even more bleak for the visiting Bulldogs after the Tigers struck again on their next possession. Sophomore quarterback Levi Mintz's 22-yard strike to senior receiver Tyric Scales capped a five-play, 5-yard drive.

With just over two minutes remaining in the first half and Cedar Bluff pinned on its own 1-yard line, the Tigers' point barrage peppered the scoreboard like pounding hail.

First, Bam Henderson scored on a 15-yard run set up by Tyric Scales's 84-yard pass reception.

Thirty seconds later, Gaston entered the end zone one play after dynamic senior end Collin Jarbo's 60-yard reception. Freshman quarterback Shai Ogles then scampered around left end from the 5 for the ensuing score. A missed PAT closed to score to 21-6.

The Tigers needed only one play to score again. With lightning-like zip on his pass, Mintz connected with senior Marcus Reese for a 54-yard scoring reception.

After the ensuing kickoff, Gaston took over deep in its own territory with only 29 seconds left in the half. They promptly fumbled, and Scales recovered. Two plays later, Taylor caught a 10-yard score from Mintz in the right corner of the end zone, and the Tigers led 35-6 going into the locker room.

Taylor struck again on the first play of the second half, scampering 82 yards for the kickoff return touchdown. With the failed extra point, Cedar Bluff led 41-6 and had totaled an astounding four touchdowns in just two minutes of play.

With the game well in hand, the final Cedar Bluff score didn't arrive until midway through the fourth quarter. Cedar Bluff concluded the eight-play, 66-yard march when Bam Williams barreled in from the 4-yard line, stretching their lead to a 48-6 advantage.

Sophomore Jordan McCartney later crossed into the end zone for Gaston. His 2-yard plunge, and Ogles's two-point conversion secured the game's final score, 48-14.

After the game, Cedar Bluff coach Jonathan McWhorter praised his linemen.

“Anytime you have a successful football team, it's going to start across the offensive and defensive line,” he said. “That's not a glamour position. Those guys literally do the dirty work. Nobody notices them. Our offensive and defensive lines really did a good job tonight.”

Cedar Bluff (6-2, 5-1) travels to Gaylesville Friday night, with the victor claiming the No. 2 seed in Class 1A Region 7 and a home playoff game in the first week of the postseason.

The loss shuffled Gaston (3-5, 3-3) to the No. 4 seed in Region 7. This Friday, they host Woodville, which lost to Spring Garden.