Sports

Bulldogs trounce Goshen, advance to Round 2

November 8, 2013November 9, 2013 Danny Smith AHSAA, Alabama, Bulldogs, football, playoffs, Sweet Water, Sweet Water High School

(Photo by Johnny Autery) With a smothering defense, the Bulldogs de-claw the Eagles from Goshen 46-0. Charles Simpson, No.59, Deshon Kilpatrick, No. 62, and, No. 7, Xavier McIntosh pull down Goshen RB Anthony Rogers. — (Photo by Johnny Autery)
With a smothering defense, the Bulldogs de-claw the Eagles from Goshen 46-0. Charles Simpson, No.59, Deshon Kilpatrick, No. 62, and, No. 7, Xavier McIntosh pull down Goshen RB Anthony Rogers.

SWEET WATER – Following a sluggish first quarter, Sweet Water blitzed the visiting Goshen Eagles for four second-quarter scores in a 46-0 win in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday night.

“We started off a little slow, and Goshen was playing hard,” said Sweet Water head coach Stacy Luker. “They were doing some good things on defense, and we had a big turnover (fumble). But in the second quarter we put our foot on the gas a little bit.”

Actually, it was midway through the second quarter before Sweet Water finally broke through on Demarcus Gamble’s three-yard run that capped a workmanlike 75-yard drive. Tristian Weatherly kicked the extra point to give Sweet Water the 7-0 lead.

After a three-and-out on Goshen’s next possession, the Bulldgos took only one play to boost the margin to 13-0. The score came on Daniel Sewell’s 57-yard run around right end. The extra point attempt failed, but on the Eagles’ first play after the kickoff, ‘Dawg defender Kyle Patterson pounced on a botched shotgun snap at the Goshen 17. Four plays later, Jakoby Aldridge scored from the 8, and Weatherly’s PAT gave SWHS a 20-point lead.

Then, with 1:28 to play before half, a partially blocked punt gave Sweet Water another scoring opportunity at the GHS 31. The Bulldogs took advantage, and Sewell punched it in, taking a direct snap and rushing 16 yards for the score with 47 seconds left.

No. 2, Jakoby Aldridge, leads the way for No. 5, Demarcus Gamble, as the Bulldogs use a punishing ground attack to dominate the Eagles from Goshen.

Goshen opened the second half with an onside kick, but paid the price when Sweet Water recovered at the Bulldog 45 and Aldridge took a pitch and raced 50 yards for a score two plays later. The Bulldogs added a four-yard Gamble run in the third and a 53-yard Eric Jenkins touchdown in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.

Aldridge led the Sweet Water ground attack with 172 yards on 20 carries, while Sewell had 96 yards on six carries and Gamble added 94 yards on 15 attempts. Jenkins added 75 yards on four rushes.

Sweet Water quarterback Branson Davis’ only pass attempt of the evening fell incomplete.

Sweet Water, now 8-3 on the year, will host G.W. Long next Friday. Long was a 33-22 winner over Aliceville Friday night.

“We are 0-0 again,” said Luker. “The playoffs are five one-game seasons – that’s the way we look at it. We’re just glad to advance.”