Red Bay escapes with 16-10 win over Bulldogs

RED BAY   - The score may have been low, but the emotions were high, what was predicted as a gritty hard fought game that ended in a nailbiter, as the Addison Bulldogs were defeated by the Red Bay Tigers 16-10.
The Bulldogs never gave up, having opportunities to outscore their opponent, but their drive pressing deep to the Tiger 10 late in the game was no match for swarming Red Bay defenders.
The clock was the Bulldogs’ final enemy, as the final seconds ticked away, ending the drive and the hope for victory.
Bulldog Head Coach David Smothers saw the game for what it was--a hard fought battle leaving them outplayed.
In fact, he told his players, grouped on the field for prayer after the game, they had plenty of growing up to do.
“I’d say the bottom 100 percent line we didn’t play them well enough to win,” Coach Smothers pointed out to the Alabamian, after talking to his team. “We’ve got to figure out how to play well enough to win.
“We are playing spurts, but playing in spurts is not well enough to win. We’ve got to be consistent, and right now we’re not.”
The loss put the Addison Bulldogs 2-2 on the season, as the Red Bay Tigers remain undefeated at 2-0.
On the night, Dayton Roberts was the leading man for the Bulldogs, raking in 68 passing yards and 49 yard on the ground. For the Tigers, Jalen Vinson was the lead man  with 197 passing yards and 55 rushing yards.
The Addison Bulldogs had 229 total yards compared to the Red Bay Tigers’ 263 on the night.
The Bulldogs aired out the ball for 68 yards compared to their opponent’s 197.
The Bulldogs dominated the overall rushing yardage 161 compared to the Tigers’ 66.
The Bulldogs edged by their opponent on first downs, receiving 12 to the Tigers’ 11 on the night.
Both teams were fortunate in having no turnovers, but the Bulldogs were hit with penalities, totaling 106 yards compared to 72 for the Tigers.
The Tigers came onto home turf Friday night undefeated, while the Bulldogs had a loss on their record to Piedmont.
“If we would have been playing Piedmont tonight, we would have got beat 60,” Coach Smothers said.
Other factors against the Bulldogs were players  facing cramps, with a player suffering an injury Friday night, along with some out due to injuries from earlier in the season.
The Tigers got the opening kickoff with Mason Holt returning to set  up possession at their own 37-yard-line.
Bulldog defenders were ready on Hunter King’s carry up the middle, and an incomplete pass meant the Tigers were punting on a 4th and 3 situation.
The Bulldogs took over from their own 25- yard-line, with  Weston Smith’s carry meeting a wall of Tiger defenders. Caleb Crider tried to tote the ball at left, but the gain was short.
Crider had a big plow for the Bulldogs good for a first down near their own 41, but the Tigers became more aggressive stopping plays at the line, and the Bulldogs were forced to punt on 4th and 4.
Defensive battles continued on each side of the ball, with a scoreless game beginning the second quarter.
The Bulldogs had the ball for a longer drive as the second quarter opened with an automatic first down on a Tiger horse collar call.
The Bulldogs backed up on a holding call, just after a complete pass to Colton Chambers near midfield.
The Bulldogs were again forced to punt, but the snap led to a short punt, giving the Tigers good field position at the Bulldog 44.
Another Addison holding call gave the Tigers more of an advantage, and a series of complete passes pushed the Tigers down-grid to a first and goal situation at the Bulldog 6-yard-line.
Bulldog defenders lined up keeping Cameron McKinney from going across the line, and it appeared the Tigers were subtracting instead of adding with an offsides call, placing them near the 10 yard line.
 Jalen Vinson then carried the ball across the line on a quarterback keeper with 7:36 left in the second quarter.  Vinson connected with Glenan Humphres who went through for two, and the score was 8-0, Red Bay.
The Bulldogs tried it again, but the drive was marred by an illegal block call  and a charging number of Tiger defenders, so the Bulldogs were forced to punt on 4th and 11.
The Tigers took over from their own 33-yard-line, and a  play which appeared as a fumble recovered by the Bulldogs was officially ruled as an incomplete pass, much to the vocal discontent from the visiting stands.
The Bulldogs struggled on the set, on a drive starting at the Tiger 45-yard- line off a return by Nicholas Rice.
Soon, the Tigers were facing 3rd and 4 situation when the Tigers were hit with a facemask call.
Weston Smith took to the grid for the Bulldogs and Dayton Roberts took off on a big carry good for first and goal near the opponent 10.
Smith tried to cross, but was met near the line and Roberts was sacked for a big loss, bringing up 4th and goal and a Bulldog field goal attempt from 20 yards out.
Elijah Howse toed the ball which parted the uprights to put the Dawgs on the board 8-3 with 57 seconds remaining until half time.
The scoreboard remained the same until the third quarter when the Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and showed more determination on a scoring drive from their own 35 yard line.
The Bulldogs were facing 3rd and 4, when  Smith’s carry was good for a first down near the Tiger 36-yard-line.
Crider took to the grid edging the ball down-grid, when a complete pass to Colton Chambers on 2nd and 13 meant the Bulldogs were first and goal at the 10-yard-line.
 Roberts carried it on the keeper to score with 8:13 left in the third quarter.  Howse toed the PAT for the score with the Bulldogs now leading 10-8.
The Tigers held on to the ball for a longer drive, as the third quarter expired, finding them near the Bulldog 4-yard-line.
Roberts then darted across on a quarterback sneak with 11:55 in the game.  Bulldog defenders pulled down Vinson shy of the two-point conversion, but the play brought a horse collar penalty on the Bulldogs, so the Tigers tried it again.
This time, Vinson connected with Humphres who went through for two. The score now had the Tigers on top 16-10.
The Bulldogs showed both drive and determination on their final drive, as they pushed the ball deep into Tigerland while facing a ticking clock.
The Bulldogs took the ball out from their own 20-yard-line. The Tigers were hit with an unnecessary roughness call. After offsetting holding and unsportsmanlike calls, the Bulldogs had a first down near their own 31.
Roberts connected for a big gain and a first down across into Tiger territory at the 45.
The Bulldogs were facing 3rd and 3, when Sage Smothers darted for a first down near the Tiger 34.
Rice found room at right for another Bulldog first down.
In danger, the quarterback fired complete to Crider for a gain to the Tiger 14 with 1:29 left in the game.
Smith was plowed down as the minutes on the clock turned into the final seconds.
Chambers pulled down a complete pass, but Tiger defenders were ready with 15 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs were at the 10-yard-line and threatening, but a sack on Roberts came as the final buzzer sounded leaving the Bulldogs disheartened on the field.
Coach Smothers said this loss means nothing to the season, for the Bulldogs must step up and play their future opponents with still a good opportunity of making the playoffs, which has become an Addison tradition.
“Sometimes you need to lose some to understand how much (you should) appreciate winning,” the coach added.