BIRMINGHAM &045; The Sweet Water Bulldogs displayed its defensive talent in Saturday’s 1A state championship game against the Cedar Bluff Tigers. They held the Cedar Bluff offense to just 78 yards for the game and went on to win its sixth championship, 48-0.

The defense also kept the Tiger Purdue bound quarterback Jamie Hampton off balance all afternoon, sacking him three times

and intercepting him three times in the game.

The defense would set up the offense for the first three scores for the Bulldogs. Sweet Water was the reception of great field position in the first half that proved to be the difference of the game. Their first three touchdowns culminated from drives of 33, 34, and 36 yards.

A Cedar Bluff turnover put the Bulldogs in great field position to get things going. Damara Williams picked off a Hampton pass and gave Sweet Water the ball just 33 yards from the end zone. Drew Luker quickly hit Scottie Nelson for a 32-yard pass, and then Dominick Holt followed that with a one-yard plunge to give the Bulldogs the first score of the game. The touchdown proved to be the momentum that Sweet Water needed.

It was the second quarter that all but deflated the Tigers hopes. The Bulldogs pushed the score up three times in the quarter. They reached the end zone twice on touchdown passes. The first was a nine-yards catch by Antonio Landrum from quarterback Drew Luker. Antonio Landrum made a great adjustment to catch of his second touchdown from Luker with 11 seconds left in the half. This one was from 25 yards out. In between the touchdown catches, Holt bolted from four yards out to record his second touchdown of the afternoon. Sweet Water went into the locker room at the half with a commanding 28-0 lead.

Sweet Water took the opening possession of the second half and drove 58 yards to add another score in less than three minutes. Anthony Landrum got to the outside for a four-yard gallop to pay dirt. &8216;We thought we would have to slow them down in their run game,&8221; said Jonathan McWhorter, Cedar Bluff head coach.

&8220;We were able to at times, but not consistently. We didn’t play good today&8221;

The next points were put on the board in the fourth quarter with another long drive. This one was a 68-yard drive that was culminated by Holt’s third touchdown of the game, a two-yard dive with 8:08 showing on the clock. Johnnie Locket would end the scoring when he scampered for nine yards. Ty Glass would miss the point-after following six previously successful attempts.

Anthony Landrum, who was voted Most Valuable Player of the game, finished with 142 yards on 25 carries. Holt added 65 yards on the ground to go along with his three touchdowns. Luker completed five of six passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson caught two passes for the game. Antonio Landrum also caught two passes, both for touchdowns.

Cedar Bluff quarterback, Hampton completed 11 of 22 passes for 102 yards and three interceptions.

Sweet Water gets it’s second championship in three years, winning its last on in 2004.