Andy falls to Pike County
(Michael Rodgers)

In a match-up between two Bulldogs, Andalusia traveled to Brundidge to face defending 3A state-champion Pike County, a game Andalusia lost 32-7.

On the opening play of the game, Andalusia received the kickoff and fumbled on their own 40-yard line. That fumble was a sign of things to come for the Bulldogs, who would go on to fumble four more times before the night was over.

"We did what we couldn't do," said Andalusia head coach Tom Causey. "We laid the ball on the ground."

On that first drive, Andalusia was advancing down the field when Pike County's Rodderick Griffin intercepted a pass from Andalusia quarterback Matt Mellown. Taking over on their own 29-yard line, Pike County drove the ball to the Andalusia 28-yard line before being stopped by the Bulldogs' defense. On their ensuing possession, Andalusia again put the ball on the ground, with Pike County recovering on their own 36-yard line.

The first quarter ended with neither team on the scoreboard, but Pike County made sure it didn't stay that way for long.

Pike County running back Darrell Reynolds had runs of 12 yards, 10 yards and 14 yards to open the second quarter. Two plays later, Reynolds would punch it in from 1-yard line to put Pike County ahead 6-0.

Four plays into Andalusia's next possession, the Bulldogs attempted to run an option from Mellown to fullback Ledarrius McNeil, but the pitch resulted in yet another fumble.

Again, Pike County capitalized on the Andalusia miscue as quarterback Tobias Lee connected with Chad Passmore for an 18-yard touchdown strike with 5:08 left before halftime. The two-point attempt was no good, and Pike County led 12-0.

Despite an illegal motion penalty on the first play of Andalusia's next drive, the Bulldogs rallied to gain a first down at their own 36-yard line.

However, Andalusia was forced to punt and gave Pike County the ball at their own 40-yard line with 2:28 left in the half. A third-down pass from Lee to Kevin Marshall resulted in a big gain, but a holding penalty negated the gain, making it third down and 19 yards to go.

The Andalusia defense held strong and forced a punt from the Bulldogs. Andalusia opened its next drive with a 5-yard pass from Mellown to DeAndre Wright, but the next two pass attempts fell incomplete.

Following a failed attempt to draw Pike County offsides, Andalusia punted as the half wound down. The teams went into the locker room with Pike County ahead 12-0. In the second half,

Pike County only needed three plays and little more than a minute before finding the endzone again. Lee connected with Griffin on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 10:50 left in the third quarter, giving Pike County an 18-0 lead.

On the second play of Andalusia's next drive, Michael Berry ripped off a 24-yard run to put the Bulldogs in business on Pike County's 35-yard line. Andalusia drove all the way to the 19-yard line before being faced with fourth down and four yards to go.

Needing to put points on the board, Andalusia went for it on fourth down, but McNeil came up short. After driving the ball to Andalusia's 48-yard line, Reynolds caught a swing pass to the right side and broke several tackles on the way to the endzone.

"We missed way too many tackles," Causey said. "We were trying to take away the running game, and they made the throws."

The extra point was good, giving Pike County a 25-0 lead. Andalusia was unable to get a first down on the next possession, but the Bulldogs received a boost when Pike County's James Jackson muffed the punt return. Andalusia recovered on the Pike County 43-yard line and would not be denied.

Riding the option attack of Mellown and McNeil, the Bulldogs converted on fourth down to keep the drive alive. On third and three from Pike County's 23-yard line, McNeil broke loose for a touchdown run to put Andalusia on the board. The extra point was good to make the score 25-7.

Andalusia's defense rose to the challenge on the next possession, keeping Pike County from gaining any yardage. However, Andalusia gave the ball back after being unable to convert on a fourth down with little more than eight minutes left in the game.

Pike County began its next drive with a holding penalty. On second and 27, it looked like several Andalusia defenders had Reynolds wrapped up in the backfield, but he lateraled the ball to Jackson, who ran for 15 yards.

One play later on fourth and 12 with 6:15 left in the game, Pike County put the nail in the coffin with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Reynolds. The extra point was good, leading to the final score of 32-7.

"Pike County played hard," Causey said. "We were out-coached, out-played and out-hit." "You've got to be more balanced to win against Pike County," he continued. "We've got a lot of growing up to do before next week."

Andalusia plays St. James next week.

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