TOWN CREEK, Ala. – On an absolutely gorgeous night for football, Addison traveled to Hatton to attempt to lock down the 2nd seed in the region. A win tonight guarantees the ‘Dawgs a first-round home game in the playoffs.
A capacity crowd waited in anticipation as Hatton won the toss and elected to kick to the ‘Dawgs. It was the last time Hatton would win anything on the field for the rest of the night. Addison’s “Mr. Versatile” Grant Rice took the opening kickoff, untouched, 80 yards for the score. The 2-point try was no good, a sign of things to come, and after only 12 seconds had gone in the first quarter, Addison was up 6-0.
Hatton was forced to punt after a quick three plays netted only 4 yards. The “Junkyard Dawg Defense” dominated the Hornets the remainder of the game.
It only took the ‘Dawgs three plays to put another 6 points on the board when Rice scampered in from 58 yards out for the touchdown. Wideout Luke Chambers, better known for his catching, pancaked a Hornet defensive back, helping Rice score the touchdown. The 2-point try was no good and at 8:41 of the first quarter, Addison led 12-0.
After forcing another three-and-out, Addison scored on a drive that consumed only about two minutes, but 54 yards. Rice hit Chambers for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point attempt was again no good and Addison led 18-0, still in the first quarter.
Hatton picked up a first down but was unable to do anything else with the ball and punted back to the ‘Dawgs.
Addison drove 64 yards in seven plays with Rice again running it in from 25 yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good and the score stood at Addison 24, Hatton 0 with 9:10 left in the first half.
After a 50-yard Hornet punt pinned Addison back at its own 16-yard line, Addison began an 11 play, 84-yard drive to pay dirt. Rice found Justin Mather for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The 2- point try was no good and with 1:51 left in the half Addison led 30-0.
Hatton never gave up and completed a beautiful double reverse pass for 39 yards when quarterback Briley Kerby found the smallest receiver on the field, Jaxson Mitchell, for the completion. The Bulldog defense held and the half ended with Addison up 30-0.
The second half opened quite like the first. Addison could do no wrong and the Hornets were just completely dominated. After another Hornet three-and-out, a 36-yard punt only netted 6 yards due to Rice returning the punt 30 yards.
Four plays later, Rice found the end zone again for his third rushing touchdown. This Rice run came from 14 yards out. This time, Addison opted to kick the extra point and Eli Howse put it through the uprights bringing the score to Addison 37-0.
After another Hornet punt, the ‘Dawgs started at their own 25-yard line, and 11 plays and 75 yards later, Addison running back Caleb “The Bus” Crider took it in from the 2-yard line. Crider accounted for more than 40 of the 75 yards on the drive. The 2-point conversion was no good and Addison led 43-0.
Addison picked off two Hornet passes in the fourth quarter. Cornerbacks Justin Mather and Quentin Barley picked the passes off. Addison played the “young pups” on offense in the fourth quarter and the game ended with Addison winning 43-0.
This game secured the 2nd seed in the region for the ‘Dawgs and assured them of a first-round home game for the playoffs.
Unofficial stats are as follows:Â Addison rushed the ball 44 times for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Addison completed 7-of-8 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Addison ran 52 plays for 417 total yards. Addison had no turnovers and more importantly only had five penalties, which is a massive improvement over the previous several games.
Hatton rushed the ball 24 times for 45 yards. Hatton completed 7-of-18 passes for 114 yards and two interceptions. Hatton ran 42 plays for 159 total yards. Hatton had two turnovers and three penalties.
Individual stats:Â Rice was 7-of-8 passing for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Rice rushed 16 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Crider had eight carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Sage Smothers had seven carries for 37 yards.
Chambers nabbed three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. Mather had two for 29 yards and a touchdown. Crider had one for 16 and Brody Dollar had one for 17 yards.
On defense the “Junkyard ‘Dawg D” was dominant again. Chambers had five tackles, Mather had four, Weston Smith, Dollar, Nelson Martin and Jake Wilson all had three tackles each.
Timothy Trussell had a sack. Mather and Barley each had a pick.
Addison completed its regular season at 8-2, and it should be considered a success, especially since this team has had to deal with a plethora of injuries all year. The ‘Dawgs are off next week and await a to-be-named foe in the first round of the playoffs.
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