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Brantley continues
dominance
(Wildcats vs. Bulldogs)
The Brantley Bulldogs won
their 41st straight region game since 2001 and built on their dominance
over the Florala Wildcats dating back to the playoff win in 1998.
The Bulldogs went on to win a state title after defeating Florala 18-7 and
knocked Florala from the undefeated ranks. Since that game the
Bulldogs have not lost to Florala winning their tenth straight.
The latest game provided
excitement for both sides as the lead swapped six times in the first half.
Florala started the scoring on
a 25 yard Cliff Goolsby field goal giving the Wildcats an early lead.
Defense and tentative play from both sides prevailed over the first 8
minutes until Brantley's Terrell
 Burnett
scored from 3 yards out to make it a 3-7 ballgame.
Florala, who had tried to
establish a running game, turned to the air and brought the ball down to
the twelve yard line of Brantley using their spread attack.
Quarterback T.J. Fleming found a wide open Maurice Cain in the end zone for
the first quarter's ending score and a Wildcat 9-7 advantage.
It would be short lived as the
Bulldogs Justin Wright scored on a 5 yard run with only 7 seconds gone in
the second quarter. The Britt Barnes kick gave the Bulldogs back the
lead 9-14. The defenses begin to step up for both teams until
Fleming found Calvin Mulkey in between two defenders to give the Wildcats
their final lead of the game with 7:16 remaining in the third - 15-14.
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Gulley scores from 41 yards out
ending Florala' hope of defeating Brantley |
Florala seemed to have
Brantley figured out for a short period stopping the Bulldogs on their
side of the field and on a third and long - Cliff Goolsby and Reggie
Gundrum wrapped up Anthony Gulley in the backfield for a loss with
almost 4 minutes remaining.
A penalty on the play -
move the ball fifteen yards to the Wildcats 41 yard line - and Anthony
Gulley would not be wrapped up - taking a handoff from Chase Hall -
Gulley followed blockers around the right side of the field finding
the outside corner and racing 41 yards for the Bulldog lead, 15-20.
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Florala held the Bulldogs to
end the first half and both teams claimed momentum going into halftime.
The second half was more turnovers for the Wildcats and more Gulley for
the Bulldogs as Anthony Gulley scored Brantley's last touchdown on a 75
yard pass interception return with 1:14 remaining in the third quarter.
Neither team would score in
the fourth to close out another region 2 title for the Bulldogs.
Bulldog junior Anthony Gulley
would finish the night with 155 yards on 19 carries - but the 75 yard
interception return could be the games changing moment. With Florala
driving in the third period Gulley picked off a Fleming pass as Florala
looked to close to within a touchdown.
After the game the two teams
meet at midfield and Florala's Arlton Hudson said a few words of
inspiration to both teams showing class and character. Florala will
host the third seed of region 4, while Brantley will host the fourth seed
of region 4 in the opening round of the playoffs on November 9th.
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