HOLLY POND, Ala. — The Holly Pond Broncos hosted the Carbon Hill Bulldogs Friday night. The Broncos were at 2-2 while the Bulldogs were 1-3. The game became a tale of two halves as Holly Pond controlled the game in the first half, but Carbon Hill would find its rhythm and control the second half to mount a comeback. The Bulldogs would come away with a 30-24 overtime win against the Broncos.
After receiving the opening kickoff, strong running by quarterback Landon Perkins and Holly Pond had the ball at Carbon Hill’s 20-yard line. Andy Light would score on a 20-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful and with 9:21 left in the first quarter Holly Pond led 6-0.
Carbon Hill would fumble on the second play of their first drive and the Broncos recovered the ball near midfield. On the fourth play of the drive, Perkins completed a 37-yard pass to Nikolas Goodwin for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful and with 6:33 left in the first quarter Holly Pond extended their lead 12-0.
On their next drive, the Bulldogs managed to get to the midfield where they failed to get a first down on a fourth and eight and the Broncos took over for their third drive. Holly Pond extended their drive into the second quarter overcoming a fourth and one and a quarterback sack. Kadin Suryono scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and the first half scoring ended with the Broncos leading the Bulldogs 18-0.
Holly Pond lined up for the second half kickoff and surprised Carbon Hill with an onside kick off. The Broncos recovered the ball stealing a possession from the Bulldogs. Seven plays later Holly Pond scored their fourth touchdown on a 5-yard run by Perkins. With 8:52 left in the third quarter the Broncos extended their lead to 24-0.
From that point on Carbon Hill’s running game began to dominate and slowly grind out scores. Devon Daniel would lead the comeback for the Bulldogs. A failed onside kick gave Carbon Hill the ball at the 50-yard line. Four strong runs from Daniel had the Bulldogs on Holly Pond’s one yard line where quarterback Clay Tittle scored. The successful two-point conversion cut the Holly Pond lead to 24-8 with 7:16 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs tried an onside that kick Holly Pond recovered at midfield. Six plays later the Broncos faced a fourth and six from Carbon Hill’s 25-yard line. The pass from Perkins was incomplete and the Bulldogs took over at that point.
Nine plays and 75 yards later the Bulldogs scored on a 1-yard run by Daniel and with the successful two-point conversion the score was 24-16 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Three possessions for Holly Pond in the fourth quarter resulted in no scoring for the Broncos. Carbon Hill’s first possession resulted in a failed fourth down play. Their last possession of the game began with them trailing the Broncos 24-16 and looking at 80 yards to score. 70 yards later, Tittle completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Connell. Daniel ran in for his third successful two-point conversion to tie the game 24-24 and force the game into overtime.
Carbon Hill won the toss and elected to go first on defense to start overtime. Holly Pond couldn’t gain any yards and faced a fourth and goal from the 10-yard line. The pass from Perkins was incomplete and the Broncos didn’t score.
On Carbon Hill’s second play Daniel scored on a 6-yard run and the Bulldogs left Holly Pond with a hard fought 30-24 victory.
After 211 total yards of offense by Holly Pond in the first half, the Bulldogs limited the Broncos to only 80 yards in the second half. Perkins accounted for 100 yards of offense passing and rushing for Holly Pond.
After only 42 yards rushing in the first half, Daniel exploded for 172 yards on the ground in the second half. He ended the game with 30 rushes.
Holly Pond has next week off and will welcome in Tarrant High School on Oct. 1.
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