PELL CITY — The Oxford Yellow Jackets were absolutely too strong for the Pell City Panthers Friday night as the Yellow Jackets won with ease 40-14 at Pete Rich Stadium.

Leading by a slim score of 6-0 after one quarter of play, the Yellow Jackets scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and led 26-7 at intermission. They never looked back.

After trading punts to start the game, Pell City’s second punt by Kegan Gaither was partially blocked by Oxford’s Shanderious Alexander. The Yellow Jackets recovered at the Panther 34.

On first down, quarterback Jarid Moore completed a 16-yard pass to Thomas Anderson. On the next play, Anderson ran for 14 yards and then he scored on a 4-yard run to make it 6-0. The PAT by Kellen Roberts was no good.

Following another Pell City punt, the Yellow Jackets drove 57 yards in 10 plays with Anderson scoring on a 5-yard run. The 2-point conversion was no good and Oxford led 12-0 with 7:45 remaining before halftime.

Pell City’s next possession saw the offense run the wildcat and they were able to pick up one first down with Tarez Elston leading the way.

After one first down, Pell City was in punt formation on fourth down but faked the punt. The snap from center to the up man was mishandled and Oxford’s Russell Pilkington picked up the loose ball and rambled 30 yards for the score with 4:27 left in the second quarter. Anderson ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 20-0.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Elston busted loose up the middle and outran the Yellow Jacket defense 73 yards for the first score of the game for Pell City. Gaither added the extra point to make it 20-7.

On the ensuing kick-off, Antonio Webb returned it 82 yards for an apparent touchdown but he stepped out of bounds at the Panther 24.

Six plays later, Allan Carson, a huge 6-foot, 1-inch, 330-pound defensive lineman ran the ball in from 2-yards out for a touchdown. With 2:13 remaining before halftime. Carson also attempted the two-point conversion but he was stopped just inches short of the goal line. The halftime score was 26-7.

Oxford took the second half kick-off and marched 65 yards in 10 plays with Coty Spurling scoring on a 3-yard run. Anderson and Spurling did all the work for the Yellow Jackets on the ground in the drive. The PAT by Roberts was good to make the score 33-7 with 8:01 remaining in the third quarter.

Pell City had the football twice in the third quarter and had to punt both times. The second punt saw Gaither punt from his own end zone and the Yellow Jackets took over at the Panther 30. Four plays later, Gary Mason scored on an 11-yard run. The PAT by Roberts was good to make it 40-7 after three quarters of play.

The lone score of the fourth quarter came on a 50-yard run by Pell City’s Alex Hopson with 6:01 remaining in the game. The PAT by Gaither was good to make the final score 40-14.

Oxford, 7-2 overall, finished 5-2 in region play will end the regular season next week against Tuscaloosa County High before they move on to the state playoffs.

Pell City, 1-8 overall, finished 0-7 in region play and will end the season next week on the road at Hueytown.