Bulldogs bite ACA 40-7
By Charlie Anderson Contributing Writer

Right: Drew Luker runs the ball for Sweet Water behind the block of Johnny Lockett. PHOTO BY JOHNNY AUTERY

The Sweet Water Bulldogs, who were on the road in Tuscaloosa this past Friday, November 2, extended their consecutive game win streak to 21 games when they defeated the American Christian Patriots 40 - 7. The win moved the Bulldogs to 9 - 0 on the season while the Patriots fell to 8 - 2.

In the game the Bulldog offense racked up 23 first downs and piled up 474 yards while their defense was holding the explosive Patriot offense to 10 first downs and 218 total yards. "I was extremely proud of our defense for holding a team like American Christian under their normal yardage total and to only seven points," Bulldog Coach Stacy Luker said. "It was a great effort by our kids on both sides of the ball and a win like that is a great momentum builder going into the playoffs."

Leading the Sweet Water rushing attack, which accounted for 381 yards of the Bulldogs' total out put, were: Anthony Landrum with 133 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries; Damaraquis Williams with 97 yards on nine carries; and Johnny Lockett with 87 yards and one touchdown on six carries. In the air Drew Luker was 5 of 8 for 93 yards. Anthony Landrum was Luker's leading target with two catches for 36 yards.

PHOTO BY JOHNNY AUTERY Johnny Lockett carries the ball against American Christian Friday night.

Over on defense the Bulldog charge was led by Delano Brewer with 11 tackles followed by Drew Luker with 10. In addition to his tackles Drew Luker had one interception in the game as did Jul Gaines and Travis Young.

It must have seemed like lightening bolts hitting them to the Patriots as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 20 - 0 lead in the first quarter scoring three touchdowns before the Patriots had taken their third offensive snap of the game.

The Bulldogs got things rolling on their first offensive possession when Drew Luker scampered into the endzone from 26 yards out to culminate a four play 65 yard drive. Scottie Nelson Added the extrapoint and Sweet Water led 7 - 0 with 9:52 remaining in the first quarter.

Luker stepped up big on defense next when he picked off a Patriot aerial on the second play of their first offensive series and returned it 19 yards to set the Bullogs up inside American Christian territory. From there Anthony Landrum put the Bulldogs up by two touchdowns when he bolted 30 yards for a score. Nelson's extra-point attempt was no good but the Bulldogs led 13 - 0 with 7:37 to play in the first quarter.

Things only got worse for the Patriots on the ensuing kickoff when Antonio Landrum stripped the ball out of the American Christian return man's hands and Damaraquis Williams fell on it for the Bulldogs. With another short field to work with the Bulldog offense made the best of it scoring again on a three yard plunge by Drew Luker with 3: 52 still remaining in the first quarter. Nelson's kick was on the mark this time and the Sweet Water lead stood at 20 - 0.

Travis Young put the Bulldogs back in business just before the first quarter ended when he picked off a Patriot pass and returned it 59 yards giving Sweet Water excellent field position inside the American Christian 10. The Bulldogs turned that turnover into to points as well when Drew Luker dove in again from three yards out. Nelson split the uprights and Sweet Water led 27 - 0 with 11:02 to play in the second quarter.

American Christian did finally get untracked on their next series driving the ball down and scoring on a six yard run. The extra-point was good and the Patriots had cut the Bulldog lead to 27 - 7 with 8:29 to play in the second period.

The Bulldogs, hitting on all cylinders, answered the Patriot score on their next possession driving down and scoring when Anthony Landrum blasted in from two yards out with 3:29 to play before intermission. Nelson drilled the extra-point giving Sweet Water a 34 - 7 lead that they would take into the halftime locker room.

With the Sweet Water defense playing lights out on the Patriot offense and the Bulldog offense controlling the ball and eating up the time on the clock, the second half pretty much belonged to the Bulldogs. The only points scored in the final two periods ended up on Sweet Water's side of the scoreboard when Johnny Lockett rambled 50 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter. Nelson's kick missed the mark leaving the final at 40 - 7.

Looking ahead to this week the Bulldogs will be hosting the Providence Christian Eagles in the first round of the AHSAA State Playoffs. The Eagles will enter the game as the number four seed from 1A Region 2 while the Bulldogs are the 1A Region 4 Champions.

A couple of things Coach Stacy Luker picked up from his film study on the Eagles caught his eye. "Providence Christian is very big and physical up front and they block extremely well" the Bulldog Skipper said. "They are patient and methodical in their execution of the scrum offense and love to control the game with it. They have averaged over 30 points a game this season with their lowest point production in any one game being 19 points. They will definitely pose a challenge for us if we allow them to control the ball and tempo of the game."

The game between the 9 - 0 Sweet Water Bulldogs and the 7 - 3 Providence Christian Eagles is scheduled for this Friday, November 9, in Sweet Water at Nolan Atkins Stadium with kickoff set for 7:00 PM. Ticket prices for the game, as established by the AHSAA, will be $7.00,

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