Tigers crush Bulldogs for 34-6 Homecoming win
The Demopolis Tigers played host to the Marbury Bulldogs under a full moon, on Friday the 13th. The Tigers had roared out to a 34-0 lead by the time Alex Abrams and Torrence Edwards were named Homecoming Queen and King for 2019 during halftime. The Bulldogs added a touchdown run as time expired in the fourth quarter to make the final 34-6 in favor of the Tigers.
The Tigers won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick. Craig Nichols took the short kick to the Bulldogs’ 36-yard line. Less than two minutes into the game, Nichols took a hand-off and ran 9-yards into the end zone. Peyton Stevenson hit Timothy Grayson for the 2-point conversion and the Tigers took an 8-0 lead with 10:09 to go in the first quarter.
The Tigers defense held the Bulldogs on their ensuing possession. C.J. Williams hauled in the punt and raced about 65-yards to the end zone. But, for the third time this year, Williams’ return was called back due to a penalty. The Tigers gathered their composure and went back to work. Nichols completed the drive on another touchdown run. Stevenson hit Shatarius Williams for the 2-point conversion and the Tigers stretched their lead to 16-0 with 3:07 to go in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs completed a pass on their next possession, but C.J. Williams knocked the ball loose and Detron Essex made the recovery for the Tigers. The first quarter came to a close with Demopolis holding the 16-0 lead.
Just 6 seconds into the second quarter, Stevenson ran in from 15-yards out. The PAT failed. The Tigers’ lead stretched to 22-0 with 11:54 to go in the half.
The Tigers weren’t done yet, as Stevenson got into the end zone for his second score of the night, after a Bulldog punt. The PAT failed, but the Tigers pushed their lead to 28-0 with 8:53 to go in the first half.
After trading punts, Jay Jones picked off a Bulldog pass with 6:19 to go in the half. Nichols would get his third touchdown of the night on a run from 8-yards out. The Tigers were unsuccessful with the 2-point conversion attempt. With 4:44 to go in the first half, the Tigers led the Bulldogs 34-0.
The Bulldogs got things moving on their next possession and made it inside the Tigers’ 20-yard line. Jones ended the threat by picking off his second pass of the night with 1:59 to go in the half.
Other than getting lots of clean jerseys in during the second half, the lone highlight for the Tigers was an interception by C.J. Williams on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the third quarter. Marbury’s highlights came on a 66-yard run from the Bulldogs’ 16 down to the Tigers’ 18 with 1:34 to go in the game. The Bulldogs would score as time expired, to make the final score 34-6.
“Good first half. Second half, at times, was lackadaisical,” head coach Brian Seymore said after the win. “We tried to get some young guys in, and we just didn’t execute as well. But, I was really happy with the effort. I thought we executed well in the first half.”
“We’ve got some guys banged up and some injuries, so some of our younger guys have to step their game up a little bit. I thought we ran the ball physical and did a better job in our short passing game. We’ve still got some things to clean up, but I told the players that I’m happy but not satisfied.”
The homecoming win moves the Tigers to 3-1 on the season and evens up their region record at 1-1. The Tigers travel to Alexander City to take on the Class 6A Benjamin Russell Wildcats next week.
