ADDISON, Ala. — Addison hosted region foe Sulligent, in a winner take all affair to see who would claim the region’s last playoff spot. Sulligent was the better team on this night as they handled the beat-up Bulldogs 21-7 ending Addison’s season at a disappointing 5-5.
The game started with the Bulldogs kicking off to the Blue Devils and forcing a quick three-and-out. Addison took possession at their own 41-yard line and began their night without their top two running backs who were out with injury. Junior Jacob Hardin stepped in for the injured backs and performed admirably on the opening drive. Hardin accounted for 32 yards on the drive as Addison used 12 plays to get down to the Devil 4-yard line. Facing a second down from the four the Bulldogs coughed up the football and Sulligent returned it to their own 35-yard line.
Sulligent didn’t waste any time as on the first play of the drive, running back Lawson Spruiel sprinted through the Bulldog line for a 65-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and at the 4:09 mark of the first quarter Sulligent led 7-0.
Addison took over at their own 29-yard line and using a mixture of run and pass plays got down to the Devil 23-yard line. Quarterback Christian “Ice Man” Roberts had several nice throws during the drive including an 11-yard completion to “Touchdown” Tommy Lee Daniel and a 17-yard completion to Jed “Wizard” Wilkins on a fourth down and four play. Addison facing a fourth and ten play went for it and Roberts found Senior Brody Dollar for a 9-yard completion. The measurement showed him just short, so the Blue Devils held the Dawgs, and they were unable to come up with any points on a very nice drive.
Two plays later, Spruiel struck again, this time from 81-yards out for his second touchdown of the night. The Devil extra point was good and with 8:54 to go in the half, the Blue Devils led Addison 14-0.
Neither team could score the rest of the half, so the Blue Devils carried their 14-0 lead and soaring playoff hopes into the locker room.
Addison received the second half kick-off and using a combination of Hardin runs and Roberts passes brought the Dawgs to the Devil 46-yard line. Then facing a second and nine, Roberts found his cousin, Wilkins, for 16 yards and a first down. If it worked once it will work again, so Roberts went to the well again and found Wilkins for 30-yards and a touchdown. The Eli “Curly” Howse extra point was good, and Addison seemed to be back in the game at 14-7 with 8:50 to go in the third quarter.
Sulligent was not to be denied on this evening. The Devils took over at their own 36 and ripped the Dawgs defense open on six consecutive running plays for 42-yards. Then when the Dawgs were expecting the run, Sulligent hit them with a 37-yard touchdown pass. Sulligent’s Noah Wheeler made a nice catch over the Addison defensive back. The extra point was good, and Sulligent had reestablished their two-touchdown lead at 21-7.
Addison and Sulligent basically just exchanged possessions for the remainder of the third and fourth quarters as neither team could muster much offense. Sulligent went on to claim the 21-7 victory and the fourth and final playoff berthfor Region 5. Addison is off next week so their season is over with a final record of 5-5. Not the season that the players, coaches or fans expected but with a rash of injuries and inconsistent play a five hundred season is all you should expect. Hopefully, the returning players next year will remember this season and build upon it. To the Seniors, thank you for your effort and dedication to Addison High School and good luck in the future, in whatever you choose to do.
Unofficial stats: Addison had 38 running plays for 105 total yards. Addison had 18 passing plays for 145 total yards. Addison had 56 total plays for 250 total yards. Sulligent had 31 running plays for 281 total yards. Sulligent had four passing plays for 44 total yards. Sulligent had 35 total plays for 325 total yards.
Addison was led in rushing by Roberts with 18 carries for 54 yards. Hardin had 16 carries for 48 yards.
Roberts had 12 completions in 18 attempts for 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Wilkins led Addison in receiving with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Dollar had two catches for 18 yards, Daniel had two catches for 13 yards and Hardin had two catches for 13 yards. Addison was led on defense by Jack Wilson and Briley Holt had four tackles a piece. Mark “The Moreland Masher” Williams, Brian “Boo Boo” Berry and Daniel had three tackles a piece. Wilkins had an interception; Berry had a fumble recovery and Daniel had a forced fumble.
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