ADAMSVILLE, Alabama -- A mixed extra point by Bessemer City with less than four minutes of the game gave Minor a 14-13 victory on Tony Lunceford Field at Minor High School on Thursday night. Bessemer City scored on a fumble recovery in the Minor end zone and the game was looking like overtime, but it didn't happen as the Purple Tigers extra point sailed wide left.

Minor (6-4) used a stingy defense for most of the night giving up only one touchdown on the night. "The spirit of resilience and the spirit of trust," said Tenacious Tigers head coach Adrian Adams. "We trust in our teammates, we trust in ourselves, trust in our coaches and trust in our technique so when your up or down you fall back on what you were taught by your coaches. We been trying to instill discipline because when your in a close game like this you can overcome and win a game like this or a playoff game. I'm so proud of this team."

Minor scored first in the game when JaVonte Vance scored on a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle for a Tigers score. With 10:16 left in the first quarter, Minor led 7-0. With 3:55 left in the first quarter, Rishard Densmore found JaMichael Rogers on a 17-yard touchdown pass play and the Bessemer City tied the score at 7-7. 

With 1:20 left in the first quarter, an Alex Glass to Jamari Jemison 55-yard touchdown pass gave Minor the lead back at 14-7 and this game looked like it was going to be a shoot out, but the cold elements and wet field condition took its tool the next three quarters as both offenses had problems scoring the next three quarters. "We came together and I think we have found our identity," said Tenacious Tigers QB Glass. "We relied on our run game and it was kinda hard throwing the ball but my teammates came on a found a way. We can get better on somethings but we have come a long way from the start of the season."

On the last play of the first half, safety Koby Ware intercepted a Bessemer City pass to keep the score at 14-7 going into halftime. "We are very good on defense," said Tigers safety Ware. "We just keep working for each other. Were very excited to be playing in the playoffs. We just have to keep working. On the interception, I can't let anyone deeper than me on that deep pass and I just kept running with the receiver and made a play on the ball."

Early in the third quarter, Bessemer City was driving and a long pass from Densmore to Rogers took the ball inside the Minor 15-yard line, but a four plays later the Minor defense held and kept Bessemer City on getting the first down and the touchdown and turned the ball over on downs.

Late in the fourth quarter, Bessemer City was driving again. This time Deontae Hall was the workhorse in the ground game and came to the Minor 13-yard line. The same thing happened and four plays later the Minor defense held at the 3-yard line and Bessemer City turned the ball over on downs. Two plays later though with the Minor offense, they fumbled the ball in their own end zone and Tay Tay Hutchins jumped on the loose football for a Bessemer City touchdown. With the score at 14-13 and the extra point looming, it was missed the Minor ran out the clock after a fumble on a punt return by Bessemer City.

The good thing for both teams, they both are in the playoffs and have more football ahead of them. Bessemer City will host Wetumpka while Minor will host Gardendale. in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.