LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: Bulldogs throttle past Monroe County
Published 12:05 am Saturday, September 9, 2017
The No. 4-ranked Andalusia Bulldogs scored early and often on their way to a 54-0 win over Class 4, Region 1 opponent Monroe County.
Andalusia got the ball first and drove straight down the field for the first touchdown of the game.
Roosevelt Weaver picked up a first down off a 12-yard run and then gained 30 yards off a pass from Ethan Wilson to put the Bulldogs in Monroe County territory.
A few plays later, Wilson connected with Grant Holley who pounded his way into the end zone for an 11-yard score.
Monroe County had the ball only two plays on the ensuing drive before an errant snap sailed into the end zone for a safety.
Andalusia took over on the Monroe County 35-yard line and wasted little time finding the end zone.
Weaver chewed off 25 yards on the second play of the drive and then scored from 3 yards out a few plays later. Reese Burkhardt drilled the extra point to give Andalusia a 16-0 lead with 6:03 left in the first quarter.
Monroe County then fumbled the kickoff and Andalusia took control on the Monroe County 40.
The Bulldogs again wasted no time as Wilson connected with B.J. Anderson for a 40-yard touchdown.
Burkhardt’s extra point gave Andalusia a 23-0 lead.
On Monroe County’s first play of the next drive, Will Clark came barreling in for a sack.
A few plays later William Lindsey hammered the Monroe County quarterback for a sack and forced a punt.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the following series when Wilson found Sebaskin Stallworth for a 10-yard touchdown.
Burkhardt continued his extra point streak to put the Bulldogs on top 30-0 with 11:28 left before halftime.
The Bulldogs forced another punt from Monroe County and again drove down the field for a score.
Andalusia got a pair of first down runs from Weaver and Josh Gurley before a 25 yard pass to Anderson set the Bulldogs up with a first-and-goal.
The Bulldogs tried to pound the ball into the end zone, but the Monroe County defense came up with a three stops.
Burkhardt then drilled a 20-yard field goal to put Andalusia up 33-0.
Just before halftime, the Bulldogs added another score to take a 40-0 lead.
On the drive, Holley had a long catch to put the Bulldogs into Monroe County territory.
Weaver finished off the drive with a 5-yard plunge into the end zone.
Burkhardt then added the extra point.
Monroe County got the ball to start the second half, but three plays later the Bulldogs forced another punt.
Following the punt, Anderson took a Wilson pass 25 yards to the end zone.
Burkhardt’s extra point gave the Bulldogs a 47-0 lead.
Both teams traded punts the next few series before the Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs.
Andalusia’s junior varsity players took over in the fourth quarter and Elijah McClain busted off a 11-yard run to give the Bulldogs a first down.
John Harper Dubose then found Ethan Barton for a 12-yard gain and another Bulldog first down.
A few plays later, Dubose rushed in from 1-yard out for the final Bulldog touchdown.
Gage Theuss tacked on the extra point to give the Bulldogs a 54-0 victory.
“Last year, this game was 14-7 at halftime and we didn’t feel like we played like we should have,” Andalusia head coach Trent Taylor said. “We talked a lot about making sure we play the entire game. We just needed to go out there play our game and take care of business.”
Next week the Bulldogs will host the No. 1-ranked UMS-Wright Bulldogs.
“UMS is always a great team,” Taylor said. “Coach (Terry) Curtis and his staff do a great job and they’ve been doing it for a number of year now.”
With the win over Monroe County, Andalusia moves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Region 1 play.