Bulldogs hold on to pick up win at Sandy Creek
TYRONE — Officials added a last second to the clock last Friday night, which gave the Sandy Creek Patriots one last hail mary shot downfield to keep their undefeated streak alive against the Cedartown Bulldogs.
That last second saw Patriots quarterback Matthew Williams toss a bomb high into the air, which was bobbled by Cedartown and picked up by a Sandy Creek wide receiv- er, who got just yards away from the end zone. Who was there to break up the play? Keshun Kent and Cedartown quarterback Trevon Wofford playing on the defensive side of the ball. Time expired, and Cedartown finally broke the streak with a 23-21 win last week on the road, and with one more win will completely secure a home playoff berth.
Last Friday’s win over Sandy Creek didn’t come without some trials, but the outcome provided head coach Doyle Kelley with a clear sign that his team can stand up to big tests to come as they hunt for a potential run for a state championship.
“We kept telling these kids and everyone that Sandy Creek has a good football team, and that they were going to come out and fight or they were going to quit,” Kelley said. “They fought us for four quarters, but our kids fought also. We fought and hung in there and did what we had to do to win the ball game.”
Cedartown opened the first half taking advantage of turnovers against the Patriots, picking up two touchdowns and a field goal in the first half off, and were able to score again in the third quarter but couldn’t convert a two-point conversion.
Having gone into halftime with a 17-7 lead at half, Cedartown felt secure in their position heading into the second half. Sandy Creek begged to differ, busting out big plays of their own in the second half before getting down to the wire and falling short against the Bulldog defense on backto-back stands on fourth downs against the Patriots offense.
“I keep telling everyone that we’re a good football team, and I think we keep showing it week after week,” Kelley said. “
Cedartown put up 223 yards of combined offense compared to Sandy Creek’s 420 yards on the night, but crucila defensive stands from the Bulldogs held off the Patriots offense especially in the second half. Wofford finished the night going 10 for 11 with 137 yards.
The win over Sandy Creek — Cedartown’s first against their 5- 4A opponent on the gridiron — just about secured Cedartown’s position in the playoff hunt for a home game to open the Class 4A, sitting at a solid second place in the Region 5-4A standings ahead of Troup County and this Friday night’s opponent to end the season, Chapel Hill in fourth place.
If the Bulldogs were to finish the season at home on senior night with a win over the Panthers, they would host the Region 6-4A third place team, currently held by Pickens County.
“Next week we control our destiny,” he said.