This author's research on Scottsboro Wildcat football has turned up no greater comeback than that staged on October 30, 1996. Not only was it an area contest, it was an area contest against one of Scottsboro's all-time great rivals, the Fort Payne Wildcats.

Scottsboro had a perfect record at stake, an unbeaten streak in regular season play since the start of the '95 season and an unbeaten area record on the line. Scottsboro Head Football Coach Larry Morris had thoughts about delaying the game until Saturday after a Friday of continuous downpours. The decision to play was made after forecasters call for clearing skies.

Thanks in part to the rain and four Scottsboro turnovers, the Wildcats fell behind 28-0 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. Scottsboro had a knack for being able to come from behind, but 28-0.

Little by little, Scottsboro chipped away at the lead. Walton Bradford recovered a Fort Payne fumble midway through the second quarter and Scottsboro finally found their way onto the scoreboard. It took only one play as Keith Trimew hit Zach Holt for a 51 yard touchdown bomb. Bradford's PAT made it 28-7. The lead was trimmed again late in the half as Scottsboro, after forcing a Fort Payne punt, drove 54 yards in only three plays. A 24 yard pass to Zach Holt and a 30 yard run by Gary Griffin put the ball at the Fort Payne 1 where Keith Trimew went over for the touchdown. The two point conversion attempt failed and at the half Scottsboro trailed 28-13.

Fort Payne's first possession of the second half ended in a fumble, which Gary Griffin recovered to put Scottsboro in business from the Fort Payne 46. Behind the running of Corey Wellington and Gary Griffin, Scottsboro worked the ball to the Fort Payne eight yard line and Griffin finished the job with his scoring run. A try for two failed and Scottsboro was drawing closer at 28-19 with 4:38 to play in the third quarter. That score would stand as the teams went to the final period.

A Scottsboro drive that began in the closing seconds of the third quarter carried over into the fourth and Keith Trimew ran 21 yards for his second touchdown of the night. Steven Johnson's extra point attempt was blocked but Scottsboro was within at least a tie in regulation at 28-25. The teams swapped turnovers and punts on the next couple of series and with 2:38 to play in regulation, Scottsboro had the ball 80 yards from paydirt. Behind Trimew, Griffin, Wellington and a determined offensive line Scottsboro maneuvered the ball downfield. As the half-minute mark neared, Scottsboro had the ball second and goal at the Fort Payne one yard line. Trimew took it in himself from there, Steven Johnson's extra point attempt was good and Scottsboro had taken their first lead of the night 32-28 with :31 to play in the contest. Ryan Bohler intercepted a Fort Payne pass to seal the victory and put the wraps on the GREATEST COMEBACK IN SCOTTSBORO FOOTBALL HISTORY.

For the night, Scottsboro put up record-setting numbers...618 total yards on 79 offensive plays...528 yards rushing on 72 attempts...but the most important number of the night...32 points for Scottsboro, 28 for Fort Payne. For those that were there, it was a game that will never be forgotten.