Bulldogs hold on to pick up first Class 4A region win
By Staff
Joe Holmes, Enquirer Correspondent
Where there was a Will, there was “no way” Columbia was getting in the end zone during the first quarter of Priceville’s 20-14 victory Friday night.
Bulldog junior linebacker Will “Big Country” Halbrooks turned in a fumble recovery, an interception and a quarterback sack against the Eagles — all before the first batch of Band Booster hamburgers were off the grill.
Riding high on Halbrooks’ play, the rest of the Bulldog defense joined in and kept the visitors out of the red zone for much of the first half.
Following the fumble recovery at the Columbia 17, Priceville struck first blood just after the mid-quarter heat break. Senior quarterback Will Stevens got the call on fourth-and-goal from the 1, punching it in for six points. Lance Hughes added the extra point to put Priceville up 7-0.
Columbia went nowhere on its next possession, having its drive thwarted by Lonnie Sutton’s interception at mid-field. Sutton trekked 55 yards into the end zone, but the score was called back on a penalty for blocking below the knees.
Instead, Priceville promptly marched 40 yards on 11 plays, culminating with a 23-yard pass from Stevens to senior tight end Rand Hutchison. With Hughes booting the extra point, Priceville was in control 14-0 with 10:01 left in the first half.
Columbia cut into the lead late in the half on a 2-yard plunge and extra point by Mario Nwaubani.
Eli Allen took the ensuing kickoff and rambled 85 yards to the Columbia 10-yard line, setting up what appeared to be a sure Priceville score. Two penalties later, Priceville’s drive collapsed on a fourth-and-15 incompletion.
Priceville pushed its lead to 20-7 midway through the third quarter, following a fumble recovery by Chase Martin in the end zone. Hughes’ extra point sailed wide right but the Bulldogs still appeared to be in command.
Columbia tried to fight back with a huge 66-yard touchdown pass from Jon McCown to Josh Maclin. Nwaubani added the extra point to pull the Eagles to within six.
With the fourth quarter waning, the Priceville “D” again rose to the occasion and forced two consecutive Eagle punts. The last was only a 15-yard effort, thanks to the pressure of Jeremy Hale on the Eagle punter.
In business at the Columbia 35, Priceville drove to the two-yard line but would have to settle for a 19-yard field goal attempt by Hughes on fourth-and-goal.
The attempt was wide right and it was up to the Bulldog defense to bow up and stop the Eagles one last time.
Working with just more than a minute remaining, McCown dropped back to pass on third-and-3. Hughes stepped in front of Maclin to intercept the pass and put the ‘Dogs back on offense at midfield.
From there Stevens took a knee and allowed the clock to run out on Priceville’s second regular season win and its first in Region 7 play.
Priceville managed 140 yards on the ground and 84 through the air. Stevens was 6-of-19 with one touchdown and one interception. Derek Smith had six punts for an average of 36 yards.
Hutchison pulled in two tosses for 44 yards. Aaron Sawyer added two catches for 31 yards. Halbrooks finished with two fumble recoveries, an interception and several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Chase Martin had one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The big story of the night was penalties. Priceville was flagged for 145 yards while Columbia had 95 in penalties.
Priceville hits the road for the first time in regular season play this Friday, traveling north of Scottsboro for a date with North Jackson.
