Sports Writer

FORT DEPOSIT – The Pike County Bulldogs needed 20 seconds to establish a pattern. Durane Flowers and the Bulldogs were going to have a big night running the football.

Flowers rushed for 226 of yards and two touchdowns, including a 68 yard sprint on the opening play of the game, to lead Pike County past Calhoun, 46-12, in a Class 3-A Region 2 football game Friday.

The Bulldogs accumulated over 390 yards on the ground, countered with 96 yards through the air.

"Our offense looked smooth most of the game," Pike County head coach Wayne Grant. "It was a great effort by our offensive line. They opened up some good holes."

Tyrone Boyd started the night with a 28 yard kickoff return, setting up Flowers’ 68 yard run.

"The fullback made the hole and there wasn’t a safety," Flowers said of the opening play. "The line blocked and I ran hard, just like we practice."

Calhoun promptly gave the ball back to the Bulldogs on their first possession, fumbling on the first play from scrimmage. Boyd recovered at the Tiger six yard line and Pike County was in business again.

The Bulldogs used two plays to extend the lead as Flowers scampered six yards for a touchdown. Boyd added the two point conversion run and 40 seconds into the game, Pike County had jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

Calhoun answered on the ensuing kickoff. Morris Davison took the ball at the four and raced 96 yards for the touchdown, cutting the Bulldog lead to 14-6 with 10:59 left in the first quarter.

But the Bulldogs offense didn’t miss a beat. Sam Diggs rumbled up the middle for 28 yards and Boyd added runs of11 and nine yards,

setting the Pike County offense in Tiger territory once again. On first down from the Calhoun 27, Shanton Redmon scrambled and appeared headed for the endzone, but fumbled, and the ball bounced out of bounds for a safety.

After the Bulldog defense forced the Tigers to punt, the Pike County offensive "freight train" rolled through again. Redmon picked up a first down on fourth and one to keep the drive alive. Following a holding penalty that negated a big run by Boyd, Redmon hit

Kendrick Wilson with a 12 yard touchdown pass and a 21-6 advantage with 6:01 to go in the first quarter.

Calhoun’s Davison responded again on the ensuing kickoff. Davison grabbed the ball at the nine, broke loose again, but lost the ball in a crowd around the Tiger 45. The Bulldogs coverage team couldn’t find a handle on the ball and Davison picked it up again at midfield and sprinted to the Pike County 23 yard line before finally being brought down. The Bulldog defense would stiffen again, and the Tigers 24 yard field goal attempt missed wide right.

"We had some ninth graders on the kickoff team that hurt us," Grant said. "We wanted to get them some playing time, but we just didn’t wrap anyone up. We didn’t want to kick the ball to no. 22 anyway."

The Bulldogs ended the half with two touchdowns from Boyd. Boyd scored on a one yard run for a 27-6 lead and picked up a fumble and raced 50 yards for a 34-6 halftime advantage.

But the first half didn’t end quietly. Boyd busted loose around left end for 15 yards before being knocked out of bounds to end the half. An altercation ensued, with coaches and referees trying to maintain order and both teams were eventually separated. Although flags were thrown, no penalties or ejections were issued and the "wild" half was finally over.

"I think no. 22 was hit hard one time on the sidelines," Grant said. "He spit on Boyd, but the altercation didn’t amount to anything."

"Coach just told me not to let him take me out of my game because we have a big game against Alabama Christian next Friday," Boyd added.

The second half started much the same way it ended, not with a fight, but with Pike County’s dominance on both sides of the ball. Wilson recovered a fumble by the Tiger offense and one play later, Redmon connected with Boyd, a 28 yard scoring strike for a 41-6 lead early in the third quarter.

Redmon threw his third and final touchdown pass with :13 seconds left in the third quarter, 48 yards to Boyd to end the Bulldog scoring assault.

"It was a good pass," Boyd said. "I just went and got it and used my speed. I work hard on my speed and feel no man in the state can catch me."

"He turned in big plays all night," Grant said of Boyd. "He has been doing that all year. We use Durane(Flowers) as our inside runner and Boyd makes things happen on the outside and in the open field."

The Tigers added a score with :35 seconds left in the game for the final margin.

The win moves the Bulldogs to 4-0 in the region and 5-2 overall. Pike County travels to Alabama Christian next week.