Bulldogs slowed by the Eagles
Published 11:48 pm Friday, August 31, 2018
Pike County and the Alabama Christian Academy Eagles met in a lightning-delayed, rain-filled contest on Friday night in Brundidge where the Eagles came out on top 16-0.
It was the Bulldogs’ second consecutive interclass game to open the season after falling last week to Charles Henderson.
Neither team could find its way onto the scoreboard in the first quarter. Alabama Christian was able to knock on the door of the redzone but a holding call stunted the drive and it ended with a failed fourth down attempt.
Sandwiched between a pair of Pike County three and outs was another long drive for the Eagles, but this time it ended with an interception at the five yard line.
In the second quarter, Alabama Christian came three feet away from the endzone but a bad snap and a holding call pushed the Eagles outside the redzone where they turned the ball over on downs again.
Finally, halfway into the second quarter, Pike County picked up its first first down and moved into Eagle territory with a 20 yard run by Rayshawn Reynolds.
The Bulldogs only went backwards from there and were forced to punt in the final seconds of the first half.
Alabama Christian held the total offense advantage at the half, 84-46. Reynolds had 43 rushing yards, accounting for 91.5 percent of the Bulldog offense. Eagle running back Jackson Hibbard had 42 rushing yards on eight carries.
The third quarter featured much of the first half’s uneventful pace until Pike County botched a snap at its own 20 yard line and the Eagles took over in prime territory.
Three plays later, Alabama Christian quarterback Reese Solar took an option keeper 18 yards to the house for the first score of the game. The two point conversion was successful, making the score 8-0.
The third quarter came to an end with the Eagles in possession again and nearing the midfield line. Alabama Christian couldn’t move behind that, thought, and a pooch punt downed the Bulldogs inside their own five.
Pike County quickly pulled itself out of the hole with a 52 yard pass from Jaidyn Wilson to Kevon Harris. The drive stalled, however, and ended with a sack on fourth down.
The Eagles ran out most of the remaining clock and capped the game with a short touchdown run and two-point conversion to go up 16-0.
Reynolds finished with 65 rushing yards and the team totaled 91 total rushing yards. The Bulldogs failed to put anything on the board, though, and have scored just six points through the first two games.
“We got to work on (the offense),” Pike County head coach Fred Holland said after the game. “Hopefully we can try to solve some of those problems and hopefully we can try to put some more points on the board.”
Pike County will hit the road next week for the first time with a game against Houston County in Dothan.