ADDISON, Ala. — On a warm, muggy night in A.G. Hicks Stadium in beautiful Addison, Alabama, the 2A Addison Bulldogs hosted the county rival 4A Haleyville Lions. Addison won a terrific game, 29-27 over the visiting Lions to start the season 1-0. The game wasn’t decided until the final drive.
The game started with Haleyville taking the ball at their own 20-yard line and driving all the way down for the touchdown. Haleyville took 18 plays for 80 yards to include a fourth down conversion. Lions QB Eli Musso found Kane Gravitt-Tucker for a 10-yard scoring pass. After a successful PAT, the Lions led 7-0.
After a couple of fruitless possessions by both teams, the Lions took over with 6:25 to go in the second quarter. Musso then found Gravitt-Tucker on a quick little 5-yard out pass, which turned into a 71-yard scoring catch and run. A missed tackle didn’t help the Bulldogs cause on the play. The point after had the Lions up 14-0 and in total control of the game.
Haleyville gained possession of the ball again and looked to be ready to salt this game away with another score. The Lions had first and ten at midfield when Mark “The Moreland Masher” Williams recovered a Lion fumble. This play seemed to light a fire under the Bulldogs.
Addison then commenced on an eight-play scoring drive. Will “The Thrill” Tuggle pounded the ball in from the two-yard line for the score. Addison ran the ball on all eight plays gaining 46-yards. Tuggle and Justin “Rocky” Mather doing most of the work. The two-point conversion pass, Roberts to Mather was good and with 1:17 to go in the half, Addison had cut the Lion lead to 14-8.
The Lions weren’t done and returned the ensuing kickoff all the way down to the Bulldog 20-yard line. Musso then tried to find Gravitt-Tucker across the middle when Eli “Curly” Howse made a great play on the ball and returned the interception from the Dawg goal line all the way to midfield.
Addison was unable to capitalize on the turnover and the half ended with Haleyville up 14-8.
The opening drive of the second half belonged to Addison and they made the most of it. The Dawg offensive line took charge of the game and on this night, a Bulldog was tougher than a Lion. Addison drove down to the Lion 34-yard line. Addison ran five consecutive running plays, gaining 36 yards when Coach David Smothers decided to surprise the Lions with a pass. Christian “Ice Man” Roberts found “Touchdown” Tommy Lee Daniel wide open down the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was called no good and the game was tied at 14 with 9:21 to go in the third quarter.
Haleyville responded like the quality team they are and drove down for the go ahead score. Haleyville used 11 plays, driving 70 yards for the score. Quess who, Musso found Gravitt-Tucker for a 6-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good and the Lions had recaptured the lead at 21-14 with 3:24 to go in the third.
The Bulldogs came back with a score of their own. After taking over at their own 40-yard line, the Bulldogs drove 60 yards on eight plays for the touchdown. Howse took the ball around right end and galloped 24 yards for the touchdown. The two-point conversion pass, Roberts to Brody Dollar was good and Addison had taken a 22-21 lead with 11:15 to go in the game.
The next Lions possession ended with the Dawg Pound defense causing their third turnover of the game, with Isiah Treece recovering the loose ball for the Dawgs. The Bulldogs took over at the Lions 22-yard line and two plays later, Tuggle took it in for his second touchdown of the game from 3 yards out. Howse kicked the extra point and with 9:44 to go in the game, Addison led 29-21.
Haleyville took over at their own 21-yard line and had a championship drive. The Lions used 17-plays to go 79 yards for the score. Haleyville needed the two-point conversion to tie. Musso then tried to go around right end and was stopped cold at the Dawgs’ 1-yard line by Cordell Barnett. The score gave Addison a 29-27 lead with only 2:40 left in the game.
Addison recovered the onside kick and sealed the victory.
Friday nigth’s was an excellent, opening week win for the hometown Dawgs over a good Lions team. Addison had few penalties and zero turnovers, so they looked pretty good for an opening week game. Addison travels to Lynn next week for a big county matchup.
Unofficial stats: Roberts was 4 of 11 for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Daniel had two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Mather had two catches for 26 yards.
Tuggle had 14 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Mather had 11 carries for 62 yards. Roberts had eight carries for 26 yards and Howse had one for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Dollar led the team with eight tackles. Jack Wilson, Mather, Tuggle and Zack Thompson each had five. Treece and Willett and half a sack a piece. Howse had one interception. Treece and WIlliams each had a fumble recovery.
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