ARLEY, Ala. – In a highly-anticipated matchup between county foes as well as region foes, the Addison Bulldogs went about 10 miles south and met the Meek Tigers in a packed house to determine who would finish second in the region and host a first-round playoff game. In a game where neither defense forced a punt in four quarters, Meek came out with a thrilling, 30-22 victory. Turnovers were critical in this game and Meek made one where Addison made two, leading to the Tiger victory.
The Bulldogs kicked off and the crowd got to see quickly what the Tiger gameplan was, get the ball to number 0, Sophomore Hunter Wyatt. Wyatt would have a monster game. On the opening drive, the Tigers took possession at their own 28. It took the Tigers 9 plays to go 72 yards for the touchdown. Wyatt touched the ball six out of those nine plays with five runs and one pass reception. The key play on the drive was with Meek facing a fourth and ten from the Bulldog 22, Wyatt went around right end and scampered 22 yards for the touchdown. Wyatt also ran in the two-point conversion and with 7:44 to go in the first quarter, Meek jumped to the early 8-0 lead.
The Bulldogs responded by starting their drive at their own 35. It took Addison 11 plays to go 65 yards for their touchdown. Addison QB Elijah Roberts had a heck of a game himself. Roberts had six carries and completed two passes during the drive. Versatile Bulldog Judah Wilkins ran it in from 2 yards out for the Bulldog score. Wyatt Anderson hit Scout Flynn for the two-point conversion pass and the game was tied up at the 2:04 mark of the first.
Meek’s next possession was the only time that the Bulldogs stopped the Tigers offense the entire night. With the Tigers facing a third and 12 from their own 28, Tigers quarterback Evan Mccay was facing heavy pressure from DL Bobby Williams and before Williams could hit him, Mccay rolled right and threw a pass that was intercepted by a diving Wilkins at the Tiger 40. It only the Bulldogs seven plays to cash in the interception as Addison FB Jaxson Williams powered it in from 1-yard out for the go-ahead touchdown. The two-point was no good and with 9:49 left in the second quarter, Addison had pulled ahead 14-8.
The Tigers then powered the ball 12 plays for 64 yards, all on the ground for the go-ahead points. Wyatt had an amazing ten carries on this drive alone. It actually seemed like the Tigers only ran about six plays all night, but the Bulldog defense had no answer and could not stop the run. Wyatt took it in from one yard out for his second touchdown. Meek actually converted another fourth down on this drive to keep the drive alive. Jordan Phillips ran in the two-point conversion and with only 2:51 to go in the first half, Meek led 16-14.
The Bulldogs were not ready to just go in at the half trailing by two. Their possession started out at their own 35 and after four consecutive runs and a personal foul penalty on Meek the Bulldogs had the ball at the Tiger 20 with 50 seconds left in the half. Roberts dropped back to pass and found Bulldog Wilkins who ran all the way down to the Tiger two-yard line with 40 seconds left on the clock. Seth Hammack powered in from two yards out and Addison had a late touchdown. Hammack also ran in the two-point conversion and Addison took the lead at halftime 22-16.
Addison received the second half kickoff and started a drive to put some distance between them and the Tigers. After nine plays, eight of them on the ground, Addison had driven to the Tigers’ 14-yard line and it looked like nothing was stop the Bulldogs from going up two scores. Well, the Tiger defense stood tall and forced the first Addison turnover of the night as a fumble occurred, and Tiger Mason Powe recovered it giving the Tigers the ball back and probably saving the game for Meek. With limited possessions due to the nature and tempo of the game it would be very difficult for either team to come back being down two scores. Powe recovered the ball at the Tigers 10-yard line.
Meek then began an epic drive; it was something you don’t see not even on video games. The Tigers drove 90 yards using 20 plays, Wyatt ran the ball 12 of those plays, for the game tying touchdown. Meek converted three third downs and a fourth down all while using over ten minutes of game time. Wyatt, of course, ran it in from 6 yards out and after the two-point attempt was no good, the game was tied at 22. The drive consisted of small runs and three passes with only one play over 10 yards.
Addison took over with 9:37 to go in the fourth quarter and looked to drive for the winning score. Addison got to midfield and then after a miscommunication on a shotgun snap cost them fifteen yards they were facing a second and twenty-five from their own 35-yard line. Roberts then found Hammack on a short pass and Hammack ran his way all the way down to the Tiger 35-yard line for the first down. On the very next play, Cameron Grace stepped in front of a Roberts pass for the interception.
Meek’s offensive line continued their domination on this drive and this drive was a killer. They again went 14 plays for 66 yards for the go ahead touchdown. Meek Head Coach Daniel Evans made a huge call while they were facing a fourth and three from their own 41-yard line he decided to go for it. If the Tigers don’t get the first down, odds are that the Bulldogs drive down and score the go-ahead touchdown. Coach Evans went for it, trusting in his Tigers, and they came through as Wyatt got three yards and an inch for the first down. 10 plays later, Mccay went around left end for fourteen yards for what turned out to be the winning touchdown. Wyatt ran in the two-point conversion and with only 32 seconds left in the game Meek led 30-22.
Addison would be unable to cross midfield and Meek came away with the win.
Addison drops to 5-4 (3-2 region) and will host Vina next Friday. Meeks goes to 4-3 (4-1 region) and will host Cherokee next Friday.
Unofficial stats
Addison ran 34 rushing plays for 189 yards. Addison ran 9 passing plays for 80 yards. Addison ran 43 total plays for 269 total yards. Meek ran 47 rushing plays for 229 yards. Meek ran 12 passing plays for 58 yards. Meek ran 59 total plays for 287 total yards.
Addison’s Roberts had 6 completions in 9 attempts for 80 yards and an interception. Meek’s Mccay went 7 out of 12 for 58 yards and an interception.
Addison was led in rushing by Roberts had 18 carries for 154 yards. Hammack had 5 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown. Wilkins had 3 carries for 9 yards and a touchdown. J. Williams had 3 carries for 10 yards and a touchdown. Meek had Wyatt with 38 carries for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Mccay 7 carries for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Addison was led in receiving by Hammack with 2 grabs for 44 yards. Kaden Dyson had 2 catches for 18 yards. Wilkins had 2 catches for 18 yards. Meek had Wyatt with 3 catches for 13 yards. Jaxon Brown had 2 grabs for 24 yards.
On defense Addison was led by Wilkins had 10 tackles and an interception. J. Williams had 8 tackles. Dyson had 7 tackles. Michael Lee had 5. Hammack, Brodie Willingham, Roberts, Bradley Williette, Owen Pratt and Bobby Williams had 3 tackles each. Meek was led by Powe with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery. Jordan Phillips had 5 tackles. Brady Baxter, Brown, Ryan Ewing and Lucas Rector had 3 each. Grace had an interception.
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