ADDISON, Ala. — On a very humid night, the 2024 High School Football Season kicked off tonight for the Addison Bulldogs as they hosted one of their county rivals, Lynn Bears, in a jamboree. The B-team/junior varsity would play the first quarter for both teams and then the varsity would play the remaining three quarters. It was not a good night to be a Bulldog fan.
The first quarter was scoreless as the young players for both teams played and nerves were obviously a problem. Penalties were abundant, as they would in the following varsity game. Addison mustered only 10 total yards on 6 plays and did not record a first down. The Bullpup defense did a respectable job by allowing the Bear cubs only 41 yards on 14 plays. Addison did force and recover a fumble on Lynn’s first drive.
At the start of the second quarter, Addison, with the help of 2 Lynn penalties got their only first down of the first half. The highlight of the drive was an Elijiah Roberts 6-yard completion to Judah Wilkins. Addison would gain 5 total yards and get 15 yards in Lynn penalties to move the ball to their own 49-yard line where the drive ended.
Lynn took over at their own 21 and moved the ball down to the Bulldog 34-yard line where Bobby Williams forced a fumble, after a short Lynn run. Trennon Burns recovered the fumble, and the Dawgs took over.
The teams alternated possessions with no one able to move the ball and the half ended with the score tied. Lynn looked bad, but Addison looked even worse. Hopefully, it was just first game nerves and not a lot of practice time so you would think that both teams would settle down and perform better in the second half. Well, one team did, Lynn, and one team continued to struggle.
Lynn took the opening possession of the third quarter and from their own 30-yard line they went 70 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Lynn quarterback Austin Dodd took it in from 4 yards out for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good and at the 7:35 mark of the third quarter, Lynn led 6-0. There was a bit of controversy on the drive. Facing a third and ten from the Addison 48-yard line, Dodd threw a low pass to Hunter Ellis who dove for the ball. It seemed obvious to the home crowd that the ball popped out when he hit the ground, because it rolled five yards behind him, but the officials called a completed pass for a 12-yard gain and a first down. Instead of a Lynn punt or an Addison possession on the recovered fumble, Lynn went down and finished the drive with a touchdown. Kudos to Lynn for doing what good teams do by taking advantage of a questionable call.
On Addison’s next possession, they managed 6 yards on three plays and had to punt again.
Lynn got down to the Addison 44-yard line when they had to punt. Lynn had a 29-yard completed pass wiped out on a penalty that would have given them a first and ten at the Bulldog 28.
After another three and out by Addison, Lynn took over at midfield and promptly went 50 yards in 8 plays for a touchdown. Dodd hit senior Braylen Roberts on a fourth down play from the 6-yard line. Dodd then ran in the two-point conversion to give Lynn the 14-0 lead with 6:58 to go in the game.
Addison’s Roberts got dinged up, so he was replaced by senior Kaden Dyson and Dyson did spark the offense. On a third and six from their own 34, Dyson hit a streaking Judah Wilkins down the home seam for 28 yards and Addison’s second first down of the game. Addison’s drive stalled at the Bears’ 31 and Addison had to go for it on fourth down and did not make it.
Lynn then ran out the final 4:14, taking a knee on their final two plays to come away with a fairly convincing 14-0 victory.
Addison will have to improve immensely, especially on the offensive line, if they have any hope of having the kind of season that they expect. They will travel to Double Springs to play the 2A Winston County Yellow Jackets next Friday and Lynn will host Meek next Friday as well.
Unofficial varsity stats (3 quarters)
Addison rushed the ball 17 times for 21 total yards. Addison ran 8 pass plays for 40 total yards. Addison ran 25 total plays for 61 total yards.
Lynn rushed the ball 32 times for 181 total yards. Lynn ran 13 pass plays for 85 total yards. Lynn ran 45 total plays for 266 total yards.
Addison’s Elijah Roberts had 2 completions in 5 attempts for 11 yards. Kaden Dyson had 3 completions in 3 attempts for 29 yards.
Lynn’s Austin Dodd had 8 completions in 13 attempts for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Addison’s Roberts was their leading rusher with 4 carries for 6 yards. Trennon Burns had 5 carries for 5 yards. Jordan Hubbert and Dyson each had a carry for 5 yards.
Lynn’s Blake Boyd had 15 carries for 76 yards. Dodd had 11 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. J.P. Burkett had 3 carries for 34 yards. Jeffery Colburn had 2 carries for 14 yards.
Addison’s Wilkins had 4 catches for 35 yards.
Lynn’s Braylen Roberts had 5 catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Ellis had 1 catch for 22 yards.
Defense
Addison was led in tackles by Dyson with 10. Burns and Brodie Willingham had 4 tackles each. Bradley Willette had 3 tackles and a sack. Roberts had 3 tackles.
Lynn was led by Chip Crowe and Julian Scott each with 4 tackles. Blake Boyd and Tyler Sims had 3 tackles each.
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