Sweet As Ever: Bulldogs grab first state title since 2010

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jacory Brown cuts through a gaping hole in the Pickens County defense during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Tornadoes.

TUSCALOOSA – Sweet Water reclaimed its once-familiar place atop Class 1A Thursday night with a 20-6 state championship game win over Pickens County. The Bulldogs utilized their trademark bludgeoning ground game and ball-hawking defense to walk away with the 10th state championship in school history.

“It’s just a super effort on our guys’ part. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys that come to work every day. I’ve said the last couple weeks how resilient they are,” Sweet Water head coach Pat Thompson said. “We’ve been behind in our last few playoff games. These guys just keep fighting and I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys.”

The pivotal moment of the contest came with a little more than eight minutes to play. Pickens appeared poised to tie the game, trailing 14-6 with 8:28 left and the ball at the Bulldog 23. AlJaron Edwards danced around and through the Sweet Water pass rush for a 25-yard completion to Jacaurian Washington earlier in the the drive. Edwards looked to recreate that magic when Jacory Brown popped him and jarred the ball free. Shamar Lewis fielded the bouncing oblong and returned it 64 yards for his second scoop-and-score in the last two rounds of the state playoffs.

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jaylon Williamson races toward the end zone during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Pickens County Tornadoes.

“Nothing but green. Touchdown,” Lewis said of what he saw when he gained possession of the ball.

“That’s a huge play. I saw the ball come loose and it just so happened our best football player was waiting for it to bounce up to him so he could take it in. He’s been around the ball all year long,” Thompson said of Lewis, who has finishes the season with three defensive touchdowns. “We got great pressure.”

The play moved the Sweet Water lead to 20-6 with 7:55 to play.

Pickens backup quarterback Clifford Morton came off the bench after Edwards was injured on the previous snap. Morton quickly went 3 of 4 passing for 59 yards before Sweet Water jarred the ball loose from a Tornado receiver and it fortuitously bounced into the arms of Luke Davis for the fumble recovery to all but seal the game with just over five minutes to play.

Sweet Water moved the lead to 14-3 with 7:12 to go in the third quarter when Jaylon Williamson punched it in from three yards out to punctuate the 11-play, 68-yard march that opened the second half of play.

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Chance Broussard (48), De’Shawnterion Blanks (52) and Kaleb Greene (13) take down Pickens County’s Ta’Darien McIntosh during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Tornadoes.

After pounding the ball deep into Tornado territory on each of its first half possessions, Sweet Water cashed in and wrested control of the game on a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Brown with two minutes remaining in the second quarter. The drive lasted 10 plays and covered 60 yards.

With the 7-3 lead, the Sweet Water defense held despite a flurry from Pickens as Jonah Smith intercepted a pass at the Bulldog 2 in the closing seconds of the second quarter to preserve the advantage.

“It’s just a super effort on our guys’ part. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys that come to work every day,” Thompson said. “I’ve said the last couple weeks how resilient they are. We’ve been behind in our last few playoff games. These guys just keep fighting and I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys.”

Pickens took a 3-0 lead with a 26-yard field goal from Jermaine Hill with 5:40 left in the half. The Tornadoes’ final points came on a Hill field goal from 28 yards out with 4:10 left in the third.

The state championship is the first for Sweet Water since 2010 when Thompson was the defensive coordinator. Thompson earned state titles as the Sweet Water DC in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Shamar Lewis runs in the open field during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Pickens County Tornadoes.

“It’s unreal to be the head coach of these guys. I’ve been in on three at Sweet Water,” Thompson said. “I never realized what (Coach Stacy) Luker went through getting us ready for that. It has been a crazy week. But these guys stayed focused”

Brown led all rushers with 103 yards on 25 carries. Williamson finished with 95 yards on 12 carries. Lewis had 95 yards 16 rushes. Jah’Darius McIntosh led the team with 10 tackles. Luke Davis recovered a fumble in the game.

The state championship is the second of the 2017 calendar year for Sweet Water, which saw its baseball team bring home the Class 1A crown in dramatic fashion in May. The two accomplishments were not disconnected according to Smith, the Bulldogs quarterback and MVP of the 1A baseball series.

“I think it had a ton (of impact). It helped us a lot,” Smith said. “It helped us know that it’s going to be a big stage, a lot of people are going to be there. Just stay calm.”

Lewis earned Most Valuable Player honors Thursday night with 95 yards rushing, a fumble return touchdown and an interception, the 28th Bulldog INT of the season. Sweet Water finished the year with 41 forced turnovers on defense.

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jacory Brown strip sacks Pickens County’s AlJaron Edwards during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Tornadoes. Shamar Lewis would pick up the fumble and run it in for the Bulldogs’ final touchdown of the game.