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The Andalusia High School Bulldogs are advancing to the third round of the AHSAA Class 4A State Playoffs after defeating Lincoln High School 40-10 last night.

The Bulldogs lost the toss and Lincoln decided to receive the ball first, but their first drive led to Andalusia’s first score when the ball went soaring over the LHS punter’s head and he kicked it out of the endzone. Just like that, the Bulldogs were up 2-0.

Andalusia received the ball on the 31-yard line, but after a Lincoln personal foul, the Bulldogs took over on the 15-yard line.

With 8:02 left in the first quarter, Elijah McClain rushed for a touchdown, but it was called back for holding.

After being stopped on third down, the Bulldogs tried a fake punt, but the pass fell incomplete and the Golden Bears took over on downs.

With 1:50 left in the first quarter, Cam Morrissette had a big stop on third down for the Bulldogs, but Lincoln ended up making a 38-yard field goal to take the lead 3-2.

The Bulldogs took over on the 35-yard line after the kickoff.

McClain then ran it down to the opposing 49-yard line for a first down. Morrissette rushed for another first down to get the Bulldogs to the opposing 30-yard line. He made another rush, trucking Lincoln players, to make it to the 6-yard line to close the quarter.

Josh Gurley opened the second quarter with a rushing touchdown to get the Bulldogs in the lead 9-3.

The next Bulldog scoring drive started on the 27-yard line.

McClain ran for a first down to the opposing 46-yard line and Morrissette followed up with another first down run to get the Bulldogs to the 35-yard line. After an intentional grounding penalty, the Bulldogs were backed up to the 47-yard line. McClain then ran for a first down and a personal foul was called on Lincoln for a horsecollar tackle. The Bulldogs found themselves on the 22-yard line with 4:52 left in the half when quarterback Jake Wilson connected with Reese Burkhardt for a touchdown to make it 17-3, after a two-point conversion by Gurley.

The Bulldogs received to open the second half.

McClain started off strong with a first down rush to the 46-yard line and Morrissette followed again with a first down rush to the opposing 19-yard line. Burkhardt hit a 31-yard field goal at the end of the drive to extend the Bulldog lead 20-3, with 6:53 left in the third quarter.

With 5:17 left in the third quarter, McClain had an interception for the Bulldogs, which led to their next scoring opportunity. Bry’Arious Burnett rushed to the 14-yard line for a first down and Morrissette punched it in the end zone to make it 26-3.

Chase Harper scored another touchdown for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter when the Lincoln quarterback was sacked. Harper scooped the ball up and ran it 19 yards to the end zone to extend the Bulldog lead 33-3.

Lincoln scored their only touchdown of the night with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard pass.

After receiving the ball on the 35-yard line, McClain rushed for a first down deep in Lincoln territory. After the play, a personal foul was called on Lincoln and the Bulldogs found themselves in the red zone once again.

With 6:55 left in the game,  Morrissette rushed to the end zone to finish the scoring effort 40-10.

“Our defense played unbelievable,” AHS head coach Trent Taylor said. “To be able to hold that bunch to 10 really says something. At the same time, I am really proud of our offense. I know not all 40 of those points were from our offense, but really and truly we just found our niche. I am really proud of our offensive line and how they have grown up.”

Taylor said there are still a few things his team has to work on going into the third round of the playoffs.

“We have got to be able to throw the football a little bit,” Taylor said. “We will get that worked out this week though.”

The Bulldogs will host American Christian Academy next week in the third round of the AHSAA Class 4A State Playoffs.