By Jimbo Ward

For the Times

SWEET WATER – The Sweet Water Bulldogs (1-1) took a nail-biter from

Gordo Friday night, 24-21.

You could smell the tradition in the air as you entered Nolan Atkins

Stadium with the Green Wave ranked No. 8 in 3A and the Bulldogs ranked

No. 2 in 1A. Thirteen state championships sit between the two teams, but these two teams have never met on the field. They have some close ties in the past with former Marengo County native and Bulldog  assistant Waldon Tucker winning a state championship at Gordo.  He is also the uncle of coach Stacy Luker.  Sweet Water native Todd Cassity also had a stint as head coach at Gordo. Max Joiner, a huge supporter of the Bulldogs was once the principal at Gordo.

The first quarter was all Bulldogs. The quarter ended in a 0-0 tie but the home-Dawgs controlled the ball the entire quarter. With 10:28 remaining in the first half, Gordo got its first-first down. Taylor Wilson missed a 34 yard field goal and the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard with 5:38 in the first half. Michael Thompson went over from the one yard line making it 7-0 after the Wilson extra point.

Gordo then fumbled on the nine yard line and Wilson’s second field goal of the night was good making the score 10-0. With 2:09 left in the first half, Gordo’s Antonio Washington went in from one yard out and that’s where the game stood at the half 10-7 bulldogs. In the third, the bulldogs snapped the ball over the punters head and one play later Washington scored his second touchdown of the night for the Greenwave, giving Gordo a 14-10 lead. With 3:28 left in third quarter, Sweet Water made its first of six fourth down tries and Brett Davis scored form nine yards out putting the bulldogs up 17-14 after Wilson’s extra point. B.J. Cade and Timarrio Campbell made two big hits for the Bulldogs, shutting down the Greenwave offense to wrap up the third quarter with a 17-14 Sweet Water lead.

The fourth quarter was one for the books. Gordo scored on a Washington

touchdown, his third of the night. With 11:11 left to play in the game, Sweet Water started a 15 play, 9:43 drive and successfully going for it on fourth down five times. Davis scampered in from eight yards out, making the inal score 24-21. Sweet Water racked up 219 yards rushing on 57 attempts while only allowing 85 yards on 23 attempts. Davis was 6-of-10 from the air for 52 yards. The Gordo offense rolled up 144 passing yards on 18 attempts.