By Slade Gilmer for the FCT

Vina overcame a sluggish early start to pull away from the Class 2A Holy Spirit Titans 42-14 in the regular season finale for the Red Devils Oct. 30.

The Red Devils, tuning up for their first playoff appearance since 2009, fell behind 7-0 early and did not take the lead until the second stanza, but from there dominated en route to the win, which gave them a 5-5 regular season record.

Holy Spirit scored first on a 34-yard pass from quarterback Matthew Mulanix to Garrett Appling to give the Titans a 7-0 lead. The Red Devils responded with a drive, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Renfrow to Blake Hester to cut the margin to 7-6 at the end of the first period.

In the second period, the Red Devils got a one-yard touchdown run by Tanner Miller and a two-pointer to make the score 14-7. Bradley Duncan broke loose for a 68-yard touchdown run, and the two-point try pushed the lead to 22-7. Appling returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown to cut the Vina lead to 22-14 at halftime, but the second half was all-Red Devil.

Joseph Emerson scored on touchdown runs of five, 25, and 45 yards in the second half en route to a 189-yard night to put the game on ice, as the Red Devils celebrated a big road win.

Vina will now turn its attention to the AHSAA Class 1A playoffs, as the Red Devils will travel to Fayette County to take on the Berry Wildcats in a first-round matchup Thursday.

The Wildcats, the fifth-ranked team in Class 1A and 1A, Region 6 champions, are 8-2 following a 32-14 loss to Class 3A Oakman Thursday night.