Andalusia (2-1) rose up to the challenge and throttled the Trinity Wildcats (1-2) 42-10 Friday night in Andalusia.

“It’s always good to get that first region win out of the way,” Bulldogs’ coach Trent Taylor said. “That’s one more down and seven to go.”

Trinity started the night with the ball and picked up one first down on the opening drive before the Bulldogs forced a punt.

The Wildcats produced a three-and-out on the Bulldogs’ opening possession.

Andalusia’s defense responded with it’s on three-and-out on the Wildcats’ offense.

On the very next play, Jamal Hourel broke through one tackler and stiff-armed another defender on his way to 68-yard touchdown run. Chase Hopkins’s extra-point attempt sailed through the uprights, and the Bulldogs were on top 7-0.

The Bulldogs’ defense continued to disrupt the Wildcats’ offense, and forced them to another three-and-out.

However, on Trinity’s next possession they went 87 yards in under three minutes to tie the game 7-7 with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Trinity’s defense then backed up the Bulldogs’ offense near their own goal line, and Hopkins was forced to punt with his heels against the back of the end zone.

Trinity took over on the Andalusia 34-yard line, and the Bulldogs’ defense held the Wildcats to a 45-yard field goal. Trinity was up 10-7.

The lead didn’t last long though, as the Bulldogs marched 75 yards down the field, and Trevor Parker pounded the ball in from the 1-yard line to put Andalusia up 13-10. Hopkins’s extra-point attempt missed wide right.

The Bulldogs’ defense continued to wreak havoc on the Wildcats’ backfield, as Antonio Gurley hit the running back in the back field on the first play of the drive, Parker stopped a screen pass for no gain and Gurley wrapped up the defensive series with sack.

Andalusia’s offense remained in control of the game, as Hourel capped off a five-play 55-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. Zach Woods added a two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs a 21-10 lead with five minutes left in the half.

Both teams traded punts before the end of the half. Demetrious Lane came up with a big sack for the Bulldogs that forced the Wildcats to punt.

Andalusia opened up the third quarter with a three-play drive that Hourel capped off with a 63-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs’ defense remained fierce, forcing another three-and-out.

Andalusia added another score a few drives later when Taylor Griffin connected with B.J. Anderson, who went 10-yards for the score. Hopkins’s extra-point gave the Bulldogs a 35-10 lead.

Three-and-outs from the Wildcats became the new norm for the Bulldogs’ defense. KeShun Townsend picked up 2-yard tackle for a loss on the first play and sacked the quarterback the next play. Will Clark and Riley Graham teamed up for a sack on the third down play, and forced the Wildcats to punt.

Cameo Stoudemire got the final touchdown of the night when he went 11-yards for the score. Hopkins’s extra-point put Andalusia on top 42-10.

Grant Holley came up big on the final plays of the game for the Bulldog defense, as he picked up two tackles for losses to finish the game.

“We had some guys really step up tonight,” Taylor said. “Our linebackers and defensive linemen kept pressure on their quarterback all night. We were more sure of ourselves tonight on offense, and our offensive line is getting better with every game. The thing that most impressed me tonight was when we got down 10-7, we didn’t panic. We just went out there and went about our business.”

Jamal Hourel led the Bulldogs on the ground with 242 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns.