By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Priceville wasn’t about to pack it in this season despite losing its first seven games of the season, even when the Bulldogs were staring at a possible eighth straight loss of the year at home Friday night.
The Bulldogs scored 26 points in the fourth quarter, including the game’s final 14 points, to stun Douglas 26-20.
The win was the first for the Bulldogs this season, ending an eight-game losing streak that dated back to the first round of the 2007 state playoffs.
Douglas drove to the 12 yard line late in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs came up with several solid defensive plays to end the threat.
Priceville improved to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in Class 4A, Region 7. Douglas fell to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in region play.
Douglas lead 6-0 with a touchdown pass from Kyle Buchannan to Josh Walker in the second quarter. The play came with just 27 seconds left in the half on a fourth-and-18 play.
Hale scored on a 33-yard run with just under nine minutes left in the game to tie the game at 6-6.
Douglas’ Walker returned the kick 67 yards to regain the lead at 12-6.
Priceville drove for Hale’s second touchdown - a 21-yard run - to again tie the game.
Walker broke free for an 80-yard touchdown and Douglas added the two-point conversion to go in front 20-12.
Priceville tied the game for the third time with 3:31 remaining in the game when Mike Brooks threw a bootleg touchdown to Chase Gladwell.
Brooks then threw a 2-point conversion pass to Kody Etheridge to tie the game at 20-20.
Priceville’s defense stepped up to set up the winning touchdown. Mark Pope came up with a solid hit on a Douglas player and Jake Miller fell on the loose ball to give the Bulldogs a chance to take their first lead of the game.
Hale scored on a 9-yard run with less than two minutes left to give the Bulldogs a 26-20 advantage.
Douglas drove to the 12, but the Priceville defense came up with three straight stops to preserve the win.
Hale broke up a pass on second down and Tanner Shell hit a Douglas receiver and the ball fell incomplete.
On fourth down, with just 0:00.3 seconds left in the game, Dylan Wheeler broke up a pass to end the threat.