Sweet Water rebounded in a big way from their heartbreaking loss to American Christian with a 62-21 win at home over John Essex.

The Bulldogs rushing attack was dominant again as Anthony Landrum (16 carries for 164 yards) Dominic Holt (13 for 118) and Travion Lockett (8 for 116) all went over 100 yards. Sweet Water finished the game with 528 yards on the ground.

But the contest was back-and-forth in the early going. Sweet Water opened the scoring on a 12-yard run by Dominic Holt and took a 7-0 lead with 6:12 remaining in the quarter.

But Essex responded with a score of their own, a Hornet quick count surprising the Bulldogs and allowing Darnell Edwards to break loose for 53-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and the game was tied at 7.

John Essex could not contain the Sweet Water backs, however, and the game was a rout by halftime. Dominic Holt scored on a six-yard run and the Bulldogs led 14-7 with 1:25 left in the first quarter. John Essex threatened on their next possession, a Keniote Phillips QB sneak giving the Hornets a first down on the Sweet Water 36. But a holding call helped force a punt and Sweet Water took advantage, Lockett breaking free for a 50-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead

Landrum bulled his way in from two yards with 4:37 to go in the half and with under a minute left Holt gashed the Hornets for a 53-yard touchdown run to send the Bulldogs in at the half up 35-7.

Essex’s defense would put points on the board in the third quarter, forcing a safety and getting a 77-yard interception return for touchdown from Phillips. But those eight points only cut the lead to 42-15 after Lockett had scored again from 23 yards out.

A three-yard run by Holt, a 29-yard run by Patrick Gamble, and a four-yard run by DeMarcus Williams, all in the fourth quarter, would eventually put Sweet Water ahead 62-15. A late touchdown pass from Suran Allen to Jimmy Branch gave the Hornets some consolation as the game finished 62-21.

Sweet Water finishes in second place in 1A Region 4 with a 6-1 regional record, 7-2 overall, while Essex takes the third spot with a 5-2, 6-2 mark. Both teams move up in class next week as the Bulldogs face 4A Gulf Shores in their season finale and John Essex travels to Greensboro.