Bulldogs play tough first half

Published 1:44 am Saturday, September 26, 2009

Greenville’s Cordez Peagler had 61 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns to help lead his team to a 36-15 victory over Andalusia Friday night in Andalusia.

Tigers quarterback Ryan Smith also finished with nine carries for 31 yards and one touchdown.

Smith also helped his team add two additional touchdowns, passing 13-for-18 for 198 yards.

Despite the three-touchdown win Friday night, Greenville coach Ben Blackmon said his team was “out-played” in the game.

“We got out-played and out-coached by coach (Brian) Seymore tonight,” Blackmon said. “I mean the scoreboard didn’t indicate it. They came out and they were more focused. “They hit us in the mouth and they hit us in the mouth and they had a great game plan,” he said. “Hat’s off to them. They have a great football team.”

Greenville (5-0) got on the board early in the first quarter as Peagler carried the ball 1 yard for a touchdown with 7:47 left in the quarter.

Andalusia answered five minutes later as sophomore quarterback Deion Akins carried the ball into the end zone from 12 yards out.

The two-point conversion attempt was successful when senior T.K. Bullard walked the ball from the 3-yard line, taking an 8-7 lead.

Things kept looking up for the Bulldogs (3-2) early in the second quarter.

Andalusia senior running back Marcus Jones added six points on a 73-yard carry. The extra point was good to give Andalusia a 15-7 lead.

Greenville tied the game up with no time left in the first half on a 1-yard pass from Smith to wide receiver Michael Watts.

Watts finished the job with a 3-yard two-point conversion reception.

Blackmon said the main key for his team in the second half lay in the running game and defense.

“We made a couple of adjustments and we were able to move the football and made some key third and fourth down stops on them,” Blackmon said. “But by no means by no means (did we do well), they’ve got a good football team.”

Greenville added another seven points in the third quarter on a 5-yard rush from Smith with 5:13 on the clock.

Peagler stepped up again and rushed for a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good.

The visiting Tigers scored two points in the fourth quarter on a third-and-34 play when Andalusia’s Ken Chambers recovered the ball and was tackled in the endzone.

Greenville was not done scoring late in the fourth quarter as Smith connected to Mikwese Claybourne for a 50-yard touchdown with 24.3 seconds left in the game.

Andalusia coach Brian Seymore said he saw something different in his team Friday night.

“The game ended 36-15 and that is no indication whatsoever how this game went,” Seymore said. “We played football from start to finish. We didn’t get some breaks in the second half. They made some plays.

“I’m proud of our kids,” he said. “I’m looking forward to next week to Thomasville. They’re going to keep fighting. I just want these fans to keep supporting these Bulldogs because they’re fighting hard.”

Andalusia’s Deion Akins was 6-for-19 for 74 yards and one touchdown; Marcus Jones had seven carries for 95 yards and one touchdown; and T.K. Bullard had four carries for 1 yard and one two-point conversion.

Andalusia will travel to Thomasville next Friday night.