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Next Stop - Birmingham
The Tiger defense forced five Bulldog fumbles and intercepted three passes to help make the push to the Class 4A state title game. Thomasville took the opening possession and, after starting at the Andalusia 30-yard line, made short work in finding the endzone. Delvonte Harris capped the drive with a 6-yard run. Henrique Aguliar kicked the PAT and the Tigers had a 7-0 lead with 8:15 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing Andalusia possession Jake Overstreet recovered a fumble at the Tiger 39- yard line. Highlighted by a 47-yard run by Harris, Thomasville again moved into scoring position. Overstreet ended the drive with a 1-yard sneak. The kick was blocked but Thomasville still led 13-0 with 3:45 left in the opening stanza. Andalusia was able to get two plays off on the next drive before Nick Smith for the Tigers recovered a fumble at the THS 30-yard line.
Overstreet recovered another fumble on the next Andalusia possession but Thomasville turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldog 26-yard line. On the first play Ladarrius McNeil, the Bulldog’s talented fullback, broke through the ranks and scored on a 74-yard run. Gillis Jones kicked the PAT and AHS was back in the game 21-7 with 10:50 left in the first half. Thomasville was forced to punt and the Bulldogs took over at their own 38-yard line. Michael Berry scored on a 26- yard run but the kick failed as Andalusia cut the lead to 21-13 with 4:30 to go in the second quarter. The Tigers fumbled on their second play, giving AHS the ball again near midfield. After Matthew Mellown hit Berry with a 43-yard completion, the Bulldogs had the ball at the THS 2-yard line. Berry capped the drive on the next play with a 2-yard run. The try for two came up short but Andalusia was back in the game 21-19 with 2:43 left. DeAndre Wright intercepted a Tiger pass on the following possession that started a series of turnovers between the two teams. Alex Buford picked off a pass for the Tigers then Malcom Jenkins recovered a fumble for Andalusia, as the Bulldogs had the ball at the 9-yard line of Thomasville. Jenkins scored on the first play and following Jones’ kick, Andalusia had a 26-21 lead going into the break. In the third quarter Justin Smith recovered a fumble for Thomasville at the Tiger 14- yard line, ending a potential scoring drive for Andalusia. The Tigers gave the ball back on the first play. McNeil coughed the ball up for Andalusia at the 23-yard line, Overstreet scooped the ball up and raced 77-yards for the touchdown. He then added the 2-point conversion to make it 29-26 in favor of Thomasville with 3:55 left in the third period. The wild, roller-coaster of a game still had one more breakneck turn as Andalusia took the ball and drove 63-yards in 14- plays before facing a fourth and goal from the 2-yard line. The defense knocked Berry for a 2-yard loss, giving Thomasville the ball at their own 4-yard line. With Buford picking up 56- yards on one play and then Overstreet recovering his own fumble for an 8-yard gain, the Tigers moved down the field. Overstreet then connected with Shed Simmons on a 26-yard completion down to the Bulldog 2-yard line. Harris scored on the next play but the kick failed as Thomasville added to the lead 35-26 with 4:45 to go in the game. On the next possession for Andalusia Overstreet intercepted Mellown’s pass in the endzone. Buford scored on the second play following the pick on a 77- yard run. Aguliar’s kick was good as Thomasville put the final nail in the coffin 42-26 with 1:56 left in the game. Buford picked a last gasp toss by Mellown and Thomasville ran out the clock, preserving the 42-26 win. Buford led Thomasville with 145 yards on five carries and score. Harris added 74 yards on 13 carries with two TDs. Overstreet had 45 yards on 10 carries and two scores. This Thursday (today) the Tigers (13-1) take on Guntersville (13-1) for the right to claim the Class 4A state title.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Birmingham’s Legion Field.
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