STORYBOOK SEASON ENDS [with gallery]
Published 1:49 am Saturday, December 1, 2018
Jake Wilson hands off to Roosevelt Weaver.
Jake Wilson picks up positive yardage.
Reese Burkhardt makes a kick.
Elijah McClain carries the ball up the field.
Andalusia defenders make a big hit.
Andalusia falls 24-3 to UMS-Wright in semi-finals
The Andalusia Bulldogs put up a strong fight, but saw their storybook season come to an end after falling to UMS-Wright 24-3 Friday night in the Class 4A semifinals in Mobile.
Andalusia won the toss and elected to kick to UMS-Wright to start the game.
The Bulldog defense came out on fire and forced UMS-Wright to punt the ball after just three plays.
On offense, Roosevelt Weaver slashed his way for 3 yards on the first play, but then the Bulldogs were forced to punt three plays later.
The snap on the punt was bobbled and UMS-Wright scooped up the ball on the Andalusia 35-yard line.
Symone Smith moved the ball deep into Andalusia territory before the Bulldogs came up with a stop and forced a field goal attempt.
The kicked missed and Andalusia took over on their own 20-yard line with 5:12 left in the opening quarter.
Elijah McClain picked up 5 yards on the first play of the drive, but the Bulldogs stalled and were forced to punt.
Andalusia’s defense came up big and forced UMS-Wright into another punt on the ensuing drive.
On the punt, McClain came racing in off the edge and got a hand on the ball as it left the punter’s foot.
Andalusia recovered the blocked punt and took over at the UMS-Wright 25 yard-line.
McClain picked up a first down on a 10-yard run before the drive came to a stall.
Reese Burkhardt then split the uprights on a 26-yard field goal to put Andalusia up 3-0 with 9:30 left in the first half.
On the following drive, UMS-Wright began to moved the ball down the field before the Andalusia defense came up big in the red zone.
Andalusia kept the host Bulldogs out of the end zone on the drive, but UMS-Wright was able to get a 22-yard field goal to tie the game with six minutes left before halftime.
Andalusia couldn’t get much going on the next drive and was forced to punt the ball away.
Skipper Snypes connected on a long pass to start the next drive for UMS-Wright, and then a few plays later found Keyshawn Woodyard in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
Following the extra point, UMS-Wright was on top 10-3 with just a couple of minutes left before halftime.
Weaver broke off a big 20-plus yard run to start the next drive, but Andalusia was unable to score on the drive before halftime.
Andalusia got the ball to start the third quarter, but was forced to punt after three plays.
Andalusia’s defense came up big again on the next drive by forcing the host Bulldogs to punt after a three-and out.
The Bulldogs got the ball back, but UMS-Wright came up with an interception on third-and-long.
A few plays after the interception, UMS-Wright found the end zone and went on top 17-3 with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
Andalusia got a strong run from Jake Wilson on the next drive, but the Bulldogs were forced to punt again after three plays.
The host Bulldogs got the ball back and drove down the field behind big runs from Smith. Smith later capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown. After a successful extra point, UMS-Wright was on top 24-3 with 11:56 left to play.
Weaver ripped off a 13-yard run to start the next drive and had the Bulldogs off to a good start on the drive.
However, the drive then stalled and Andalusia had to punt the ball back to UMS-Wright.
The Andalusia defense came up big on the next drive as they forced UMS-Wright into a three-and-out.
On the first play of the following drive, Wilson’s pass was defected and senior center Brennan Strong caught the ball for a 2-yard gain.
Weaver then picked up a 6-yard run to put the Bulldogs near the first down marker.
Wilson then connected on a pass for another Andalusia first down.
The Bulldogs continued to move the ball down the field as Wilson found Keaun Samuel for a 15-yard gain down to the UMS-Wright 6-yard line.
However, UMS-Wright came up with an interception in the end zone that put the finishing touches on the Class 4A semifinal game.
The host Bulldogs were able to run out the clock for a 24-3 victory.
“Give UMS credit,” Andalusia head coach Trent Taylor said. “They are really, really good on defense. They schemed us up real well and did the things they needed to do. I was proud of our kids. They played hard and never quit. You hate it for these seniors, but these kids had a great year. I’m very proud of them.”
More Sports
-
Polls
Loading ...-
-