ADDISON – Knowing they would be given a challenge for the entire game, the Addison Bulldogs stood up and passed the test Friday in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 1A playoffs.
The Bulldogs' 42-26 victory over No. 6 -ranked Spring Garden was the first time since a 26-21 triumph over Region 7 rival Decatur Heritage on Sept. 29 that the outcome would come to a conclusion in the final quarter.
For much of October and in the first round of the playoffs the previous week, the No. 3-rated Bulldogs had control of their games by halftime.
It was a different story on Veterans Day evening at A.G. Hicks Stadium. Addison was behind 18-14 at halftime.
The squad was down, but not out.
Two touchdowns in a span of 2:00 at the outset of the third period became the storyline for the Bulldogs to live for another week.
Many things changed in this game after halftime. Spring Garden never had good field position like the Panthers did for the first two quarters.
The Panthers' three touchdown drives that lifted them to the lead in the first half, began from their 35, 36 and 34-yard lines.
In the second half, the Panthers had four series with starting field position at their 22, 20, 17 and 21.
No question the turning point was on a fourth-and- 1 situation early in the third with the Panthers down 22-18, trying to move the chains from their 31.
Running back Dakota Lambert, who torched the Bulldogs for 150 yards in the first half, was hit hard by an Addison defender, losing the football to an alert Gage Gilliland, who picked it up.
Gilliland had blockers aside him for 30 yards down the left sidelines and extend the Addison lead to 28-18.
Lambert managed 42 yards in the second half, only 13 in the fourth quarter with the Addison defense keeping him bottled up and unable to turn the corner.
The Bulldogs forced three turnovers with the second being an interception by Ben Robinson from his linebacker position.
He read Spring Garden QB Ben Ivey on a play action pass with the Panthers trailing 35-26 early in the fourth and moving the ball deep into Addison territory.
The interception halted the series and gave the Bulldogs the ball. Addison marched 86 yards to get breathing room on the Panthers, leading 42-26.
Zayne Guthrie ended the dreams of Spring Garden trying to come back and upset the Panthers when he intercepted Ivey at the Addison 37 with 2:07 to play.
One first down by the Bulldogs with the Panthers out of time outs, and the highly competitive game was over. Addison survived and is now part of the quarterfinal round.
Addison plays at Hubbertville this week in Fayette County. The 10th-ranked Lions scored a late TD and held off Hackleburg 27-22 to set up their first meeting with Addison since 1949.
The four teams left from the North Region in 1A are the champion and runner-up of Region 5 and Region 7.
Hubbertville finished second to Pickens County in Region 5 play. Decatur Heritage took the No. 2 position behind Addison in Region 7.
The region champs have to go on the road for the quarterfinal round via the bracket setup from the AHSAA.
Addison will be in Fayette County with Pickens County coming to West Morgan High School Stadium to play Decatur Heritage.
A victory for Addison against Hubbertville and a win by Decatur Heritage over Pickens County would allow the Bulldogs to play at home on Thanksgiving weekend in the semifinals.
If Pickens County defeats Decatur Heritage, Addison is probable to play the day after Thanksgiving in the town of Reform, west of Tuscaloosa by approximately an hour.
It's one step at a time when teams get into the AHSAA football playoffs. The Bulldogs are getting closer to an appearance at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn on Dec. 1.
Now they have to go through a lions’ den in Fayette County for the season to continue.
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