Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Andalusia Bulldogs got region play underway scoring its first win of the season, 24-6, over the Headland Rams.

The Bulldogs saw its offense get on track after having scored only one time in the team’s first two games of the season. The majority of offense came courtesy of the runningbacks with Zerrick Jones getting most of the carries in the first half and M.J. Berry taking the lead after Jones came out in the second half. Meanwhile, the defense kept the Rams at bay, allowing only one score.

Head Coach Trent Taylor said he was proud to see his team’s improvements, but said there is still work to be done, including to eliminate penalties.

“I’m proud of how the defense played all night long,” Taylor said. “I’m super proud of M.J. (Berry) for the job hid did coming in after Zerrick (Jones) had to come out. I’m really proud of the offensive line, that’s been a weak spot, but they stepped up and did a great job tonight.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement. We have to get rid of some selfishness and play as team. Then we’ll be a good football team. Until that point it’s going to be tough.”

After missing on a field goal attempt on their first drive of the game, the Bulldogs did ultimately put the first points on the board. It was set up late in the first quarter when Cadariyus Love picked off a Headland pass and brought it back to the Headland 29-yard line. On the first play, Zerrick Jones found running room up the middle for a gain of 18 to the 11, bringing an end to the first quarter. On the first play of the second, the handoff went to Jones once again who followed his blockers into the end zone to make the score 6-0. Cobb Stewart’s point-after gave Andalusia a 7-0 lead with 11:53 to go in the second.

The Bulldog defense came out strong once again on its first go-round of the second quarter. A big tackle for loss by Riley Tucker and a near second interception by Love, led to a Headland punt and a big play on special teams as Jones — who plays offense and defense for the Bulldogs — busted loose for a 60-yard return for his second score of the game. Stewart’s point-after was good to make the score 14-0 with 8:29 to go in the first half.

Headland put its first points on the board with a short run up the middle with 6:01 to go in the second. The point-after attempt was blocked by the Bulldogs as Andalusia held on to a 14-6 edge.

With time winding down on the half, Andalusia took control of the ball at their own 40-yard line. On third down, Jones hit a big run for 20 yards and followed that with another eight-yard gain. The Bulldogs got the ball all the way down to the 2 with 13 second left. After a series of three consecutive flags, the clock was suddenly down to 6 seconds. Andalusia ran a play up the middle that came up short of the goal line and time expired on the half with the score remaining 14-6.

The Bulldogs got the second half going with a time-eating drive that ultimately ended with a 37-yard field goal by Stewart, increasing Andalusia’s lead to 17-7 with 6:55 to go in the third.

Neither team could get anything going the remainder of the third and Headland was moving the ball early in the fourth. But back-to-back sacks by Ke’Maurian Porter and C.J. Likely ended the threat.

Likely struck again on Headland’s next possession, taking down the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage on a fourth-down conversion attempt.

Andalusia put the game away on the following possession on strong running from Berry who broke a 48-yard run to the 10-yard line. He would take the ball into the end zone from 2 yards out a few plays later. Stewart’s PAT made the score 24-6.

Andalusia was able to run out the clock after Neillex Ferrell intercepted a Headland pass.

Andalusia (1-2, 1-0) continues region play against Greenville (2-1, 0-1) next week on Friday, Sept. 13 for homecoming.