Sweet Water stifles Washington County
SWEET WATER – Fourth-ranked Sweet Water High School made a strong statement in its first year of Class 2A football Friday night, defeating the No. 2-ranked Washington County Bulldogs 20-6 at Nolan Atkins Field.
“This win puts us where we want to be, but it doesn’t satisfy us,” said Sweet Water head coach Stacy Luker following the win. “It was a big game and it puts us in a good position, but it doesn’t settle anything.”
The victory did keep Sweet Water in control of its own destiny in Class 2A, Region 1. The Bulldogs remain undefeated in the region and 6-1 overall after handing Washington County its first loss of the season.
SWHS used ball control to snatch the critical mid-season win from the highly-touted visiting Washington County Bulldogs, including a 12-minute, 20-plus play drive the spanned much of the third and fourth quarters. The drive culminated with Sweet Water’s final score of the game that left Washington County in a 20-6 hole with only 8:35 to play.
TD against Washington County.
The Sweet Water touchdown came on a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line. Bulldog workhorse Deion Watters, who had a 24-carry, 133-yard night, literally carried two Washington County defenders to the goal line, but lost the handle as he neared paydirt. An alert Sweet Water quarterback Brett Davis followed the play and pounced on the ball in the end zone for the score.
Davis had also converted two key fourth downs earlier in the epic drive, one on a keeper and another on a scrambling eight-yard pass to Jamal White.
Luker called Davis’ fourth-down pass and heads-up fumble recovery “huge.” The coach added, “Brett’s a four-year starter for us. He’s a great leader, and the players love him. I’m glad I’m going to have a few more games with him.”
Sweet Water and Washington County battled to a scoreless first quarter tie before the home-standing Bulldogs broke the ice early in the second when Watters scored on fourth-and-two from the WCHS 18. Taylor Wilson kicked the extra point.
SWHS added to the lead later in the second when Jarvis Lewis muscled his way into the end zone from three yards out. Wilson again booted the PAT to give Sweet Water a 14-0 lead at the break. Washington County cut the lead to 14-6 six minutes into the third quarter when Emil Rudolph scored on a six-yard run. After the kickoff, Sweet Water started the 74-yard drive that chewed up much of the game’s remaining minutes and ended with Sweet Water scoring on Davis’ heads-up play.
Luker credited both sides of the ball for the team victory. “We told our guys we needed to chew on them up front,” the coach said. “We wanted to try to win the battles up front. Our defense bent but didn’t break, and our offensive line blocked well and our backs ran hard. “
Sweet Water outgained Washington County 271 total yards to 204, and in first downs, 20-12. All but eight of Sweet Water’s 271 yards came on the ground, with those eight yards coming on the fourth down pass – one of only two tosses Davis attempted on the night.
The Bulldogs host Choctaw County Friday night before traveling to Mobile Christian for another critical Region 1 battle on Oct. 26.