By By Adam Robinson – Sports Editor
W.S. Neal head football coach Blaine Hathcock, his staff and players knew that the key to winning Friday night over Clarke County would be to stop the Bulldog running game and No. 8 Tim Barnett.
Well, even though they knew the task at hand, stopping Barnett seemed to be easier said than done. Barnett racked up over 300 yards (303) of total offense of the Bulldogs 416 total offense and had four touchdowns. The Bulldogs downed the W.S. Neal Eagles 49-12 Friday night in East Brewton in the first region game of the season for both teams.
With the loss, the Eagles dropped to 1-1 on the season overall and 0-1 in region play while Clarke County improved to 1-1 and 1-0 in region play.
Not only was it the offensive production from Barnett that fueled the Bulldogs to the win, but the Bulldog offense combined with the lack of offense for the Eagles.
After an opening 12-play drive for the Bulldogs to claim an early 7-0 lead, the Eagles turned the ball over on just their second offensive play of the night. William Newton returned a Taylor Cash interception on a 38-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 6:42 left in the first quarter.
But on the next play for the Eagles, W.S. Neal got something going.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jeremy Nicholson took the ball on his own 6-yard line and went 94 yard to the Clarke County end zone to put the Eagles on the board at the 6:19 mark. The play cut the lead to 14-6 after the missed extra point.
Things seemed to be turning in favor of the Eagles after the kick return from Nicholson.
After giving the ball back to Clarke County, the Bulldogs fumbled and the ball was recovered by Nicholson at the Clarke County 48-yard line.
After recovering the ball and taking over on offense, the Eagles failed to move the ball and punted to the Bulldogs.
From there, it only took two Bulldog plays for quarterback John Walker to connect with Barnett for a 91-yard pass reception. That play put Clarke County up 21-6 with 4:00 left in the first quarter.
For the Eagles on their next offensive series, quarterback Cash was intercepted by Newton again, but this time the Eagle defense held and forced a punt.
After an Eagle put to end the first quarter, it was Barnett again who needed only two plays to go 65 yards to pay dirt to put Clarke County up 28-6 with 10:48 left in the first half.
After another Eagle punt, the Bulldogs took over on their own 38-yard with 7:58 left in the half.
The Bulldogs went 15 plays down to the W.S. Neal 5-yard line to set up another touchdown. This time from quarterback John Walker with 33:7 left in the half to go up 35-6 at the half.
In the third quarter, W.S. Neal came out firing as Cash was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive and drove eight platys courtesy of a 42-yard Cash to T.J. Taylor pass. The pass set up the lone Eagle touchdown of the night when Cash found Nicholson in the front of the end zone to connect for the score. The score cut the Bulldog lead to 35-12 with 8:29 left in the game.
On the Bulldogs first offensive series of the third quarter, Clarke County needed only four plays for Barnett to find the end zone again as he put the Bulldogs up 42-12 with 6:38 to go in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs would find the end zone late in the third quarter as Torri Taite rushed 30 yards to give the Bulldogs their final score of the game to cince the win over the Tigers by a socre of 49-12.
W.S. Neal will travel to Andalusia next week for their first road trip of the season and will look to get back on the winning side of things.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Andalusia at the school's Bulldog Stadium.
Region
Standings
Reg. Total
Jackson 1-0 2-0
UMS-Wright 1-0 1-1
B.C. Rain 1-0 1-1
Clarke Co. 1-0 1-1
Hillcrest 0-1 1-1
W.S. Neal 0-1 1-1
Thomasville 0-1 0-2
Andalusia 0-1 0-2