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Andalusia held a lead for much of its contest against top-ranked Pike Road Friday night, but a late surge for the Patriots sent the Bulldogs home with a loss, 28-14.

Andalusia scored a little over halfway through the first quarter when J’Marion Burnette took the handoff on a fourth-down play and pushed three yards into the endzone. Pike Road answered in the second quarter with a touchdown to tie the game.

Before the half, Burnette struck again for the Bulldogs, taking the ball 71 yards into the endzone, lifting Andalusia to a 14-7 halftime lead. The Bulldogs’ defense kept the Patriots in check throughout the third as Andalusia clung to its seven-point advantage.

With about 10 minutes remaining in the game, Pike Road began to make a move and scored to tie the game at 14. The Patriots kept the momentum and took the lead with just over 7 minutes to go, 21-14.

On Andalusia’s following possession, a turnover led to another Pike Road score, increasing the Patriot lead to two touchdowns, 28-14, which would prove to be the final.

With the loss, Andalusia drops to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the region.

The Bulldogs will look to rebound when they return to their home turf next week for a region game against Charles Henderson (0-4).