Dawgs Fall Short Against Allatoona
Cedartown's Andre Williams looks on in disbelief as time runs out for the Dawgs. (Gail Conner/camerachik.com)
The Cedartown Bulldogs traveled to Acworth, Georgia on Friday Night to take on the Allatoona Buccaneers (7-0, 3-0). Cedartown (5-2, 2-1) was attempting to hand Allatoona their first loss and have the chance to control their own destiny in region.
All looked well in the early stages of the game. Allatoona scored on a deep pass to take a 7-0 lead. However, Cedartown would answer back with a long kick return that set up a short touchdown run for Sophomore Nick Chubb. Cedartown would score again on another Nick Chubb touchdown carry, scoring 14 unanswered and giving the Dawgs a seven point lead.
With less than two minutes to go in the second quarter, Cedartown had the ball 1st and goal inside the five yard line. The Dawgs ran the ball up the middle four times but could never reach the endzone.
The second half was a back and forth affair. Allatoona found a passing game that was non-existent in the previous two quarters, and that would prove to be the difference in the contest. Heralded running back Miles Jones carried for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14, after a deep pass from the Buccaneer’s Jeremy Uzee to T.J. Herron. The score would remain tied going into the fourth quarter.
A long run from Zach Chubb, a late hit penalty, and an 11 yard touchdown run from Nick Chubb would give Cedartown the lead, but only for a moment. Jeremy Uzee was again found a man deep and Allatoona had tied the game again, 21-21.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Dawgs were marching down the field with a chance to score but a Cedartown fumble brought the drive to a sudden halt. After an exchange of possessions, Cedartown was required to punt out of their own endzone. Allatoona returned the punt to the Dawgs 16 yard line, and on 3rd and 9 the Bucs ran a draw play to Jones and he found the endzone. Allatoona would hold on to the lead and win the game 27-21, despite being outgained in nearly every category.
Cedartown returns home this Friday night to play the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes (4-3, 2-1) in what will be a huge sub-region game. Game time is set for 7:30.
