By Staff
Joe Holmes, Enquirer Correspondent
OAKMAN – Like a vintage car on a cold winter morning, the Priceville offense had sputtered its way through the first three games of the season, managing only 22 total points. All that changed Friday night in Oakman.
Running like a highly tuned V-8 the first half, Priceville sprinted out to a 27-6 halftime lead and coasted from there to a 34-12 victory.
"It finally clicked," Priceville coach Marty Chambers said. "We moved the ball well in the first half and kept them out of the end zone most of the night. We were proud to pick up that first win."
Priceville took its first possession of the evening and scored on a 1-yard plunge by senior quarterback Hunter Teague. Brad Helton's extra point put the Bulldogs up 7-0 just six minutes into the game.
With the Priceville thwarting the Wildcats' every move, the Bulldogs were back on offense in short order. A 15-yard scamper by Teague and 12-yard pass to Rand Hutchison set up Helton's 34-yard run to paydirt and a 14-0 lead with just 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
Oakman answered on its next possession when Brandon Young sprinted 65 yards before Lonnie Sutton turned on the afterburners to haul him down at the Priceville 1-yard-line. Tyler Tubbs took it in from there but the Wildcats couldn't manage the two-point conversion, leaving the score 14-6 Priceville with 11:17 left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs added to their lead when Teague hit Hutchison from 21 yards out at the 4:14 mark of the second. Helton's extra point made the score Priceville 21, Oakman 6.
Playing well on both sides of the ball, Hutchison would followup his touchdown catch with a sack of Oakman quarterback Bryant Freeman. That gave the Bulldogs possession with under a minute remaining in the first half.
Run the clock out and go into the locker room with a safe 21-6 lead on the road? Not on your life.
Instead, Teague found Aaron Sawyer on a 48-yard completion deep into Wildcat territory. With just 16 seconds left in the half, Priceville ran its lead to 27-6 on Teague's 7-yard jaunt.
Priceville's defense continued to shut the door on the Wildcats in the second half behind the play of Jayson Hamilton, Wes Long and a host of other Bulldog defenders. Oakman managed a final score on a 3-yard run by Clint Earnest with 6:43 left in the game.
The ensuing onside kick caught Priceville off guard, giving Oakman possession at the Bulldog 44. But a fumble on the first play of the drive wound up in the hands of Priceville defensive tackle Jonathan Hopkins.
The deal was sealed when Teague broke loose for a 37-yard gain to the Oakman 11. He followed with a 1-yard touchdown dive and a 34-12 lead for the visitors with just 1:57 left.
Helton picked up 67 yards on four carries. Teague had 10 carries for 64 yards and three touchdowns and was 5-of-12 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown. Sawyer had two catches for 71 yards.
The Bulldog defense held Oakman to just 15 yards passing and 143 on the ground.
Priceville entertains the Danville Hawks Friday night.