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The Tide added a 34-yard interception return by defensive lineman Ryan Skeens and three more rushing touchdowns for a 29-point third quarter that started a running clock for a Sherman win that will likely clinch a home playoff game in the first round.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYeah, we played very well today,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Sherman coach Kevin Buzzard said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think we had a couple of turnovers maybe. Nothing major.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Sherman (8-2) fumbled once and had an interception ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” which quarterback Eli Pauley threw on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half that was picked off by Poca as time in the second quarter expired.

The Tide was penalized four times for 25 yards in what Buzzard said was the best game Sherman has played this season.

Pauley had a TD pass, a 51-yarder to River Williams, that helped Sherman build its lead in the first half. That score followed a 1-yard run by Pauley and a 4-yard run by Dawson Green.

Pauley and Green each had a pair of rushing scores.

The Tide QB completed 4 of 9 passes for 74 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Sherman running back Trey Lester rushed six times for 88 yards but was kept out of the end zone. The TideÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s leading rusher and receiver this season paced Sherman with a pair of receptions for 14 yards.

Green, however, led the ground attack with a game-high 11 carries for 81 yards. On a night when his team could do no wrong, BuzzardÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Tide also made four of five 2-point conversion attempts.

Sherman was 1 for 2 on extra point tries.

For Poca, it was a much different night.

The tone was set for the Dots when they muffed the opening kickoff. While Spencer Jones recovered the bobbled ball, it proved to be sign of things to come.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe picked the wrong night to play our worst ball,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Poca coach Seth Ramsey said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAll things come to an end. This is just part of high school football, but, man, I wish we would have had a better night.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Two high snaps ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” one on a punt and another on a third-and-1 ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” cost the Dots, as did a fumble following a 14-yard run that would have given Poca a first down deep in Tide territory on the opening possession of the game.

Poca (4-6) fumbled once more in the third quarter, which Sherman recovered. Four of PocaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s turnovers led to touchdowns by the Tide.

By the of the game, Poca had fumbled seven times, although the Dots lost just two of those.

Preston Bonnett led Poca with 93 yards on 10 rushes, while Jones had 25 yards on six carries.

Jones got the Dots on the scoreboard with 3:10 left in the third quarter when he returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown. Gavin BerryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s point-after made it a 51-7 score.

Bonnett provided the final TD of the game on a 42-yard run with 7:41 to play.