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SWHS wins hard fought contest over Red Devils
The defending Class 1A state champion Sweet Water Bulldogs had their mettle tested last Friday night as they fought off the Maplesville Red Devils 35-27 at Nolan Atkins Stadium. “We needed a game like that, it was good for us,” Coach Stacy Luker said. “This season we lost two games in the fourth quarter, this time we got the job done with defense.” Maplesville took their first possession and drove to take the early lead. The Red Devils hit paydirt on a 50-yard touchdown run. With the added PAT they took a 7-0 lead with 10:03 left in the first. Travion Lockett took the ensuing kickoff 74-yards to set up Sweet Water’s first touchdown. Those points came courtesy of Dominic Holt’s 1-yard run. Justus Staehle kicked the PAT and the game was knotted at 7-7. Early in the second quarter Maplesville retook the lead with a 12-yard run. The kick failed but the Red Devils had a 13-7 lead. The Bulldogs returned the favor by putting together a quick, 4-play, 60-yard drive, highlighted by a 41-yard run from Anthony Landrum. Quarterback Deon Williams called his own number on a 10-yard keeper to cap the drive. Staehle again made good on the conversion attempt and the Bulldogs had a 14-13 lead with 7:36 to go before halftime. Maplesville was full of fight and took the ensuing possession down the field and scored on a 10-yard run. Again the attempt failed as the Red Devils retook the lead 19-14. Sweet Water saw their drive end inside the MHS 30-yard line as the first half expired. Early in the third quarter Holt broke free on a 44-yard scoring run. Staehle again made good on the point-after touchdown and Sweet Water had a 21-19 lead with 10:41 left in the third. The Bulldog defense set up the next touchdown of the second half as Paul Lynn recovered a Red Devil fumble.
Three plays later Lockett scored on a 12-yard run. Staehle kick was true and the Bulldogs had a 38-19 lead with 8:44 left in the period. On the final play of the third quarter Maplesville scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass. The added 2-point conversion brought the Red Devils closer 28-27. The defense made another stand as Demarquis Williams intercepted a pass at the 5:00 mark of the fourth quarter. Landrum, broke three tackles to put the final nails in the Maplesville coffin on a 53-yard run. Staehle’s kick increased the lead to 35-27. The Bulldog defense made one final stop of the Maplesville offense to preserve the 35-27 victory. Anthony Landrum had a monster night as he rushed for 231 yards on 13 carries and scored one TD. Holt added 99 yards on 13 carries with two scores. On the defensive side of the ball Holt led the way with 14 stops. Landrum and Jacques Lockett each had 11 tackles. Blake Luker had seven solo and one assist. Deon Williams and Demarquis Williams each had an interception. This Friday the road back to Birmingham doesn’t get any easy as the Bulldogs (9-2) head to Brantley (10-1) to take on another set of Bulldogs. Brantley easily dispatched J.U. Blackersher 60-6 last week. “They have a great tradition and they play hard,” Luker said of his second round foe. “Brantley is a well coached team and they have great skill players. “Plus they haven’t lost at home since 2002,” he added. Game time at Brantley Field is 7 p.m.
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