Clint Thompson
ATLANTA —
Even though fumbles were their bug-a-boo in the first half, the
Thomasville Bulldogs man- aged to hang on to a 13-11 season-opening victory over Lovett on Sat-urday.
Jeffery Dyson and the Bulldogs' defense were the Lions' nemesis in the second half. Dyson ran for 100 yards after intermission and directed a 67-yard scoring march in the fourth quarter. Then the Bulldogs' defense snuffed out a late rally as Carlton Butts sacked Hunter Budd as time expired at Memorial Stadium at Conley-Oakley Field.
Thomasville survived despite losing five fumbles — four in the first half.
"I can't say enough for the kids on this team," Thomasville coach Richie Marsh said. "I never ever could have imagined we would win a game when we turn the ball over that many times. These kids have worked so hard to overcome things like that.
"It's amazing we overcame all those turnovers."
Thomasville's last fumble came on its last drive of the game, giving Lovett the ball at its 25-yard line. With their spread attack, the Lions marched down the field in the waning moments and had the ball at the Bulldogs' 28-yard line.
Lovett was forced to call its final timeout with 12 seconds remaining. Then, on third and 10, Budd rolled to his left and ran into Butts, one of the Bulldogs' 25 seniors, who fought off a blocker and sacked Budd for a huge loss.
Time expired and the Bulldogs team rushed the field in jubilation.
Dyson and Trey Bryant paced a Bulldogs' offense that ran for 246 yards. Each senior ran for more than 100 yards.
Bryant churned out 77 of his 126 yards in the first half.
Dyson tallied both of the Bulldogs' scores. He darted in
from 28 yards out in the first quarter for the game's first points. Dyson finished with 122 yards.
The Bulldogs exacted a measure of revenge with the win. It was just the second
meeting between the teams, as Lovett ousted Thomasville in the third round of the Class AA playoffs in 2007.
The game was delayed a little more than an hour because of two lightning delays.
