Special to the MESSENGER

The Pike County Bulldogs scored 14 fourth quarter points to edge the Dadeville High School Tigers 20-7 at Dadeville.

The loss left the Tigers 2-2 and 1-1 in region play.

The Bulldogs tested a

young Dadeville defense early with a 13 -play drive that began at their own 35-yard line and went down to the Tiger 1. But the Tiger defense stuffed the Bulldogs in three straight plays.

The Bulldogs went for it on fourth and goal from the Tiger 2-yard line with a toss sweep around right end. But Antonius Freeman and Antonio Minnifield wrapped up Tyrone Boyd and stopped him for no gain and turn the ball over to the Tigers.

However, Dadeville gave the ball right back when Patrick Rowe fumbled on his own 7-yard line.

The Bulldogs recovered and one play later, Durane Flowers ran across the goal line for the touchdown. The Bulldogs led 6-0

with 10:24 left in the half.

"If our kids play well and lay their guts on the line but we get beat by a better team," said Richard White, head coach of Dadeville High School, "I can live with that. If we would have played the first half with as much intensity as we played the second half then who knows what would have happened."

The two teams traded punts the rest of the half. Dadeville’s defense, led by noseguard Tim Johnson, stopped Pike County on a fourth down attempt to stall a drive and Tigers punter Clint McKelvey kept the Bulldogs backed up with a 50-yard punt.

James Shealey recovered a fumble early in the third quarter for the Tigers. However, DHS went to failed to on fourth and two and the drive stalled.

The Tigers started their only scoring drive with an 11 yard run by Jones. The Tigers moved the ball up the field to the Bulldog 32-yard line. On first and ten from the 32, Neese dropped back to pass and was met by both of the Pike County linebackers who sacked him for a loss of 16.

On second and 26 from the Tiger 48, Neese dropped back to pass, evaded one tackler and fired the ball into the hands of

tight end Josh Kolen for a gain of 30 that moved them to the 18 yard line.

Neese would add one more completion to the drive when he passed to Courtney Russell for a gain of 12. The Tigers then put their only points on the board when Rowe scooted into the end zone from 11 yards out. The point after touchdown was good and the Tigers took a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

"We knew coming in that Pike County was going to be one of the top teams in our region," said White. "We felt that if we could upset them that would put us into the driver’s seat."

The Bulldogs took the kickoff and then drove down the field. Foster completed the two passes for gains of 27 and 16 yards. The Bulldogs added the go-ahead score with a

three yard run by Flowers. The extra point was no good and Pike County led 12-7.

The Bulldogs held Dadeville and put the game away.

Boyd completed a 41-yard drive when he crossed the goal line on a 3-yard run. Boyd would also convert the two points bringing the game to its final score 20-7.

"All we can do now is go to work and get ready for Horseshoe Bend on Thursday night," White said.

Dadeville tried to mount a late comeback when Neese connected with Rowe on a 60 yard pass play with no time left on the clock.

The Tigers travel to the other side of the county this Thursday to challenge Horseshoe Bend. Pike County hosts Barbour County for Homecoming.