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‘Dawgs, Panthers hash out differences in 1A region contest

Stewart Gwin , , , , , , , , , , ,
09-09-16 -- Dixons Mills, Ala. -- Sweet Water's Jaylin Johnson (23) leaps over Marengo's Clarence Tolbert (51) in Friday's game at Marengo High School in Dixons Mills, Ala. Sweet Water won the Class 1A Region 1 battle, 33-22. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
09-09-16 — Dixons Mills, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jaylin Johnson (23) leaps over Marengo’s Clarence Tolbert (51) in Friday’s game at Marengo High School in Dixons Mills, Ala. Sweet Water won the Class 1A Region 1 battle, 33-22. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

It was everything you’d expect out of a Class 1A Region 1 rivalry Friday night when the Sweet Water Bulldogs made the short trip down to Dixons Mills to take on the Panthers of Marengo High School.

“That was a great game tonight, you played hard, but we’ve got more work to do,” Marengo head coach Eberne Myrthil told his Panthers following the 33-22 loss. “Never again. Never again. You don’t want to feel this way again, and neither do I. You’ve got to play from point A to point B”

Sweet Water would find the end zone first in the match-up when quarterback Jonah Smith connected with Will Huckabee for a 23-yard touchdown reception. The PAT off the foot of Smith put the ‘Dawgs up 7-0 with 3:07 to go in the first period of play.

The Panthers were quick to answer, setting the tone for the knock-down, drag-out game that would ensue when Quindaris Ausborne took the kickoff 86 yards. A two-point conversion pass from quarterback Cordarius Pritchett to Alphonzo Lewis Jr., was successful, giving the Panthers the edge, 8-6.

Marengo extended the lead at the 7:14 mark of the second quarter when Ausborne found Pritchett open for an 18-yard touchdown pass. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 14-7.

The Bulldogs tied it up heading into the half when Smith hit Trent Sams for a 78-yard touchdown reception with 5:43 to play. At the break, both teams were tied at 14.

Following the half, the ‘Dawgs put the pedal to the floor and never looked back.

09-09-16 -- Dixons Mills, Ala. -- Sweet Water's Jacory Brown (40) is wrapped up in a pile as Marengo's Clarence Tolbert (51) attempts to tackle him in Friday's game at Marengo High School in Dixons Mills, Ala. Sweet Water won the Class 1A Region 1 battle, 33-22. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)
09-09-16 — Dixons Mills, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jacory Brown (40) is wrapped up in a pile as Marengo’s Clarence Tolbert (51) attempts to tackle him in Friday’s game at Marengo High School in Dixons Mills, Ala. Sweet Water won the Class 1A Region 1 battle, 33-22. (WAW | Stewart Gwin)

After taking the kick to open second half play, Sweet Water punctuated a 4:14 drive when Shamar Lewis crossed the line from 6 yards out. The Smith PAT was no good, and with the Bulldogs on top 20-14, the Panthers would not be able to regain the lead for the remainder of the contest.

Sweet Water would go on to score twice in the fourth quarter, once on a 9-yard Smith run, and again on a Jaylin Johnson run, eventually extending the lead to 33-14.

Marengo found the end zone once more late in the fourth when Pritchett linked up with Christion Wright, Sr. Wright fumbled, but his own Clarence Tolbert was able to recover the fumble and score. A two-point pass from Pritchett to Roosevelt Thompson rounded out scoring for the night, leading to a final of 33-22.

“Too many mistakes tonight,” said Myrthil. “And at the end of the day, we were still in the game, but you can’t commit that many mistakes and beat a good team like Sweet Water.”

“This was a big region win for us,” said Sweet Water head coach Pat Thompson. “This is us getting back to Sweet Water football.”

The ‘Dawgs racked up 423 yards of offense in 61 plays while Marengo put up 165 yards in 35 plays. Of those 423 yards, 134 yards came through the air with 289 on the ground. Marengo relied more heavily on the pass game, with 125 yards coming through the air and 40 on the ground.

Sweet Water had 20 first downs to Marengo’s 11.

“We had too many turnovers to win a game like this,” said Myrthil.

Marengo committed four turnovers, two coming by way of interceptions and two on lost fumbles.

Sweet Water’s Smith went 5 of 9 on the night with two touchdowns, one interception, and rushed eight times for 57 yards and one touchdown.

Shamar Lewis lead the ground game for the ‘Dawgs with 109 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, while Jaylin Johnson touched the ball 15 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Marengo’s Pritchett completed 9 of 14 attempts for 107 yards and two interceptions.

Alphonzo Lewis Jr., pulled in four receptions for 53 yards while Thompson lead Panther rushers with 28 yards on five carries.

“We’re just working on Sweet Water, that’s all we’re worried about,” said Thompson of the upcoming week of preparation for J.F. Shields. “This was a big confidence builder for our team and we’ll take that into next week with us when we play Shields.”

“This isn’t the same Marengo team that people were used to four or five years ago,” said Myrthil. “These guys want to win, and they have the talent to do it.”

With the win, Sweet Water (2-1, 2-0) will host J.F Shields next week while the Panthers (2-1, 1-1) will face another region foe as they travel to A.L. Johnson.