The Dora Bulldogs snapped a two game losing skid Friday night against the hosting Fultondale Wildcats. The game started with both teams scoring touchdowns on their opening possessions. The Wildcats drive being the most impressive of the two as they scored in just 51 seconds utilizing a fast paced offense to score quickly.
However, the Bulldogs made defensive adjustments that would cause the Wildcats offense to be held in check the next few drives. The Bulldogs would use the remainder of the first quarter and most of the second quarter to build up an impressive 24-7 lead with 3:47 left until halftime.
Nonetheless, this was homecoming night for the Wildcats and they were not going down without a fight. Fultondale would find success on the legs of their running game and were opportunistic in taking advantage of a special teams miscue on the Bulldogs kickoff coverage. All of a sudden, the Wildcats were back in the game cutting the Bulldogs lead to 24-20 before halftime.
The Wildcats would strike first in the second half breaking a run loose for touchdown with 5:23 left in the third quarter. This touchdown capped off an impressive 20 unanswered points to give Fultondale the lead in the third quarter, 27-24.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the fun on homecoming night would end. Dora steadied their offensive woes on the legs of their ground game sparked by a late third quarter touchdown by Bulldogs running back, Dylan Jeff giving them a 30-24 lead. The Bulldogs would take advantage of a Wildcats turnover on the following kickoff. The Bulldogs continued to run their way down the field until being just short of the goal line at the end of three quarters.
Dora started the fourth quarter with a 1 yard touchdown run by Jamarcus Goodmon to take a 36-27 lead. The Bulldogs would use a strong running game and a bend but don’t break defensive approach to keep the WIldcats offense at bay in the final stanza. Bulldogs kicker, Brayden Williamson would hit an impressive 40 yard field goal with 5:08 left in the game to give the Bulldogs a 39-27 advantage.
Fultondale was able to move the ball down the field in the 4th quarter but any hopes of a comeback would end when Dee Wilkerson intercepted a Wildcats pass to essentially put the game on ice. Dora would run out the rest of the clock and claim victory! The Bulldogs capped off the night scoring the final 15 points in the game.
Most notably, the Bulldogs had strong individual performances from Dee Wilkerson, Jayden McDavid, and Jamarcus Goodmon. However, the Bulldogs won this game as a team overcoming adversity after giving up a 17 point second quarter lead. On the night, the Bulldogs out gained the Wildcats on offense 344-299 and overcame 3 turnovers to secure the win.
The win improves the Bulldogs record to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in class 4A region 6 play. Dora will be back at Horace Roberts field next Thursday night to welcome the Bulldogs from Ashville in an important region 6 clash.