Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Andalusia High School Bulldogs shutout the American Christian Academy Patriots 24-0 to make an appearance in the fourth round of the AHSAA Class 4A State Playoffs next week.

The Bulldogs received the ball to start the half and there was a speed bump when the Bulldogs fumbled on the first possession and ACA took over on downs.

ACA started on the opposing 36-yard line, but the Bulldog defense forced a fourth down and the Patriots turned over on downs with 9:30 left in the first quarter.

Elijah McClain had a big first down run for the Bulldogs to get to the Bulldogs own 45-yard line.

Cameron Morrissette had a first down run to get the Bulldogs to the opposing 47-yard line.

Josh Gurley converted on third down, running to the 28-yard line.

A penalty on the Patriots and a rush from McClain put the Bulldogs on the eight-yard line. Morrissette then pounded it to the five-yard line and Gurley finished the drive off with a five-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.

Andalusia kept things rolling after the Patriots fumbled the following kickoff.

McClain started the second quarter with a big rush to the 17-yard line.

Morrissette then rushed to the end zone to increase the Bulldog lead 14-0 with 10:25 left in the half.

The Patriots had to punt on their next drive, putting the Bulldogs on their own 10-yard line.

McClain rushed for another big first down to the 49-yard line.

Quarterback Jake Wilson and Morrissette then set up a 46-yard field goal for kicker Reese Burkhardt, which he made to increase the Bulldog lead 17-0 to end the half.

The Bulldogs had another scoring opportunity with 5:06 left in the game, but the field goal was no good.

The Patriots managed to get into Bulldog territory, but McClain came up with a big interception to end the third quarter.

With 5:52 left in the game, the Patriots were marching down the field and managed to get to the Bulldog 11 yard line before Caleb Blackston had a huge hit knocking the ball out of the Patriots receiver’s hands and into the hands of Josh Gurley for an interception.

McClain had another big rush to the 43-yard line, but it was brought back for holding.

Wilson connected with Zymon Ray for a first down with 2:40 remaining in the game and Morrissette put the ended the scoring effort for the Bulldogs with a rushing touchdown to end the game 24-0.

“I think to be a team that has no D1 prospects according to all the experts, we are a pretty darn good team,” AHS head coach Trent Taylor said. “We really have a team right here.”

Taylor gave props to his defense and his offensive line for the way they played last night.

“That zero on the scoreboard is a pretty big highlight to me,” Taylor said. “Walking up during halftime, the referee came up to me and said he had never seen an offensive line play like that. American Christian really does have a good football team though. I just couldn’t be more proud of the entire group.”

The Bulldogs will travel to Mobile to face U.M.S. Wright in the fourth round of the AHSAA Class 4A State Playoffs.