The Andalusia Bulldogs were to the top of their game in the opening round of the playoffs, sweeping Sipsey Valley Bears 43-6. Sipsey Valley Bears 43-6.
The Bulldog defense was able to score only one score, and it was scored after a mistake on the return of a punt that was fumbled. This caused the Bears within 10 yards. Apart from that it was a tough time for the opponents.
AHS The head coach of AHS Trent Taylor said he was happy with the way his team performed coming off the bye week that concluded this season.
“It was a little difficult starting off with penalties from every side. But, I felt we did what we needed to do. Offensively, it was clear they weren’t going to place players in the box. They wanted us to play football and that’s exactly what we did. If we were able to throw the ball, Jake (Lathrop) did well,” Taylor said.
The win sets the stage for another round this coming week Jackson High School (10-0) which is the unbeaten champions of Region 1.
“We’ll begin to work. We’re aware that they’ve got an excellent football team, and it’s going to be a huge obstacle, but we’ll be able to figure out what we can do to give them a winning game,” Taylor said.
The key player in the defensive performance was the junior Cadariyus Love, who concluded the game with four interceptions.
One of the interceptions by Love stopped the Bears on their first game, and gave Andalusia the ball on the line of 47 yards. J’Marion Burnette got his night going by rushing three times with the total that was 25 yards. After a huge 23-yard run by Kal Crittenden, he would be the beneficiary of an interception by Jack Lathrop on the following play to gain 13 yards before the 7-yard line. Burnette completed this drive by running a six-yard run that opened the scoring. Parker Adams ran the ball through for a successful 2-point conversion that gave players the Bulldogs an 8-0 advantage with 8:04 remaining in the opening period.
Following the kickoff, the first play led to another interception in this game. It was caught from Neillix Ferrell, setting the Bulldogs up on the Bears 25-yard line. The second time, it was Zerrick Jones who carried the ball. He picked up four handoffs in succession and scored on one-yard runs. Cobb Stewart’s point after lifted his Bulldogs up to 15-0 advantage.
The Bears made their first major game-winning play in their next game, completing the 37-yard touchdown. However, a sack from Riley Tucker set them back and on a fourth-and-15 passing attempt, Love was rewarded with an interception for the second time in the game.
Set up on their own 10-yard limit, Love continued his hot night with a second offensive play receiving the ball from Lathrop which was destined to 65 yards. A couple of errors and penalties put the game at the 20, resulting in an attempt at a field goal that failed, hitting in the wrong direction over the center of right-hand upright.
The Bears began to take over at 20but the drive ended in a punt thanks to a sack from Tristan Pitts for a four-yard loss.
The Bulldogs allowed Burnette one of the two runs during the play, but Jones ran three times in three consecutive plays with the last one of them for 18 yards and 15 yards. Burnette finished the run from there, with a gruelling run to the goal zone. Stewart’s goal-after made it 22-0 at 7:30 in the first period.
The Bulldog defense was not giving any concessions to the Bears and forced to punt. The punt this time was not handled correctly, allowing Bears to grab the ball for a great field position, resulting in their first point of the contest with an unconfirmed 15-yard touchdown. The following point was also not great and the Bears were able to reduce the lead to 22-6.
The kickoff went to the zone of the goal to allow a touchback. On the very first play from to the 20 yard line Burnette ran through a gap and discovered a running lane all the way to the end zone. The Bulldogs had a 29-6 advantage with just 4:06 left in the first half.
Andalusia continued to dominate Sipsey Valley in the second half. The Bears had a successful onside kick to begin the second half, but were not capable of maximizing the possession gained.
Andalusia scored a touchdown thanks to a 32-yard touchdown scored by Jones for the sole score in the third quarter which lifted the Bulldogs to a lead of 36-6.
The final score was scored at 5:17, when Jordyn Skanes crashed into the goal line from just four yards, resulting in the final score 43-6.
Burnette led the rush in rushing with 3 touchdowns, 197 yards in 14 plays. Jones was averaging 2 touchdowns and 107 yards on 13 runs. Skanes added the 79 yards, and scored a touchdown on 14 runs.
Lathrop went 12-of-23 passing for 185 yards.
Alongside his four interceptions as well as a defensive deflection of a pass, Love led Andalusia receivers with eight catches, resulting in 130 yards. Crittenden was 35 yards with two catch.
Ferrell led the defenders with six sacks, one for loss, and also recorded an interception. Kam Weaver made four tackles and one for loss, and an assist. Zade Newton had three tackles, two assists, and two hurries. Xavier Marshall, Riley Tucker as well as Tristan Pitts also had sacks during the game.
The article Bulldogs outclass Sipsey Valley in first round victory 45-3 was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
