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Fast offensive start, solid defense propel Patriots over Bulldogs, 35-6

Michael Clements
11-20-2020 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jaland Lewis Horton breaks through a hole during the Bulldogs game against the Linden Patriots.

After starting with all four Marengo County high school football teams in the 2020 AHSAA Football Playoff, now there is only one team remaining. The Linden Patriots got on top early and rode a solid defensive effort to control the Sweet Water Bulldogs on their way to a 35-6 win to remain undefeated and advance to the 2020 Semi-Finals round.

Sweet Water received the opening kick but their drive stalled and the Bulldogs downed a punt at the Linden 12-yard line. On their very first play from scrimmage, the Patriots opened a hole on the right side for Zelly Aldridge, who turned on the jets and outran everyone for an 88-yard touchdown. The PAT failed and the Patriots claimed a 6-0 lead with 6:18 to go in the first quarter.

11-20-2020 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Linden’s Zelly Aldridge (7) turns the corner (behind the blocking of Tim Thurman) en route to an 88-yard touchdown run during the Patriots win over the Sweet Water Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs’ ensuing possession ended with a punt that rolled dead at the Patriots’ 6-yard line. The Linden drive ended when Tim Thurman, who appeared to be going down, bounced off the back of a Bulldog would-be tackler, who was on the ground, gathered himself and finished with a 9-yard touchdown run. The 94-yard scoring drive and 2-point conversion by Joshua Williams gave the Patriots a 14-0 lead with 8:53 to go in the second quarter.

11-20-2020 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Linden’s Tim Thurman heads to the end zone after bouncing off a tackler during the Patriot’s win over the Sweet Water Bulldogs.

Sweet Water’s third possession of the night saw the Dawgs get a first down at the Patriot 1-yard line. A false start penalty backed the Dawgs up to the 6-yard line and the Patriot defense flexed and held the Bulldogs out of the end zone with a stop on 4th-and-goal from their 2-yard line. The Patriots ran the clock out to hold onto a 14-0 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs got a break on the opening second half kick when the Patriot returner fumbled and the Dawgs recovered at the Linden 37-yard line. Walker Thompson got the Bulldogs on the board with a 1-yard scoring plunge at the 8:34 mark of the third quarter. The PAT failed, closing the Patriot lead to 14-6.

11-20-2020 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Walker Thompson pushes over the goal line for the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown against the Linden Patriots.

The Patriots fourth possession of the night ended with Williams getting into the end zone on a 1-yard run. Jeremy Witherspoon’s PAT stretched the Patriot lead to 21-6 with 4:53 to go in the third quarter.

After the Patriot defense held the Bulldogs on a fourth down conversion attempt, Aldridge notched his second touchdown run of the night on a 15-yard run with 10:44 to go in the fourth quarter. Witherspoon’s PAT moved the Patriot lead to 28-6 over the Bulldogs.

The following Bulldog drive ended at the 8:28 mark of the final quarter when the Patriot defense stepped up once again and held on a 4th-and-3 conversion attempt by the Dawgs. The ensuing Patriot drive culminated with a 3-yard run for Williams. Witherspoon’s final PAT gave the Patriots their final margin of victory at 35-6 with 47 seconds remaining.

11-20-2020 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Linden’s Joshua Williams throws a pass during the Patriots’ win over the Sweet Water Bulldogs.

“Proud of my boys! We had a game plan. They came out with something different that we hadn’t seen. We made adjustments on the fly. The guys stood their ground and did what they had to do (to win),” said Linden head coach Travis Lockett, following the victory.

Aldridge lead the running attack for the Patriots with two touchdowns and 203 yards on 11 carries. Thurman had one touchdown and 81 yards on nine carries. Williams had two touchdowns and 45 yards on seven carries. Savion McIntosh had one carry for 34 yards. Williams also completed all three of his passes for 69 yards. Johnny Blackmon had two catches for 34 yards and Savion McIntosh had one catch for 35 yards.

11-20-20202 — Sweet Water, Ala. — Linden’s Savion McIntosh hauls in a 35-yard pass from Joshua Williams during the Patriots’ win over the Sweet Water Bulldogs. (Photo by Johnny Autery)

Daryl McIntosh and Tyrik Daniels led the defense with 10 tackles each, with Daniels adding one sack. Thurman and Antwarn Cosby tallied eight tackles each. Stephon McIntosh totaled six tackles. Aldridge and Blackmon collected five tackles each. Williams, Roderick Brown and Jamarcus Williams added four tackles each. Dewoyne Charleston added three tackles.

For Sweet Water, Thompson completed two passes for 52 yards and had one touchdown and 14 yards on 12 carries. Jaland Lewis Horton totaled 81 yards on 16 carries. Jaylin Dixon had 15 carries for 50 yards. Jaden Lewis caught one pass for 36 yards and Dixon had a catch for 16 yards.

The Patriots (13-0) will host Brantley next Friday night in Linden.