The Bulldogs traveled to Attalla on Friday night for their 2021 region finale against the Etowah Blue Devils. Much like their other losses on the season, Dora was close to getting a breakthrough win but would fall just short and lose their second region game in a row.
Etowah would use the home field advantage to get on the board first as quarterback Trace Thompson would find Deginal Sanders for a 16 yard touchdown to take a 7-0 advantage. The Blue Devils would extend their lead early in the second quarter when Jarvis Hardwick would score from 2 yards out giving the Blue Devils a 14-0 lead.
Trailing 14-0, the Bulldogs faced their biggest adversity of the season trailing and being shut out by the preseason region favorite. However, the Bulldogs would face the adversity on the following drive as Dora would move the ball down the field and would cap off the drive with a 3 yard touchdown run from Jamarcus Goodmon. Dora’s defense would get a huge stop on the next Blue Devil offensive possession setting up an opportunity for Dora to tie up the game.
Josh Williams would take the Etowah punt after several hops on the ground and with an Etowah defender in his face and return it deep into Blue Devil territory. Dora would take advantage as Jamarcus Goodmon would race 26 yards for a Bulldog touchdown and tie the game at 14. The Blue Devils would knock in a 26 yard field goal late in the second quarter that would give Etowah a 17-14 lead at the half.
The Dora defense would have a phenomenal second half as they would shut out the powerful Etowah offense. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the offense would also be shut out in the second half. The Bulldogs offense would only threaten to score once in the second half as Brayden Williamson would miss a 42 yard field goal that would’ve tied the game in the third quarter. The Bulldogs would also turn the ball over on downs in a frantic effort to try and win the game on a last second drive at the end of the game but could never threaten enough to get into field goal range or even hail Mary range.
The loss drops Dora to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in class 4A region 6 play. The Bulldogs secure the 4th seed to represent region 6 in the state playoffs. Dora will travel to Killen in two weeks to face undefeated region 8 champion, the Brooks Lions. Dora last played Brooks in 2011 when they traveled to Killen as a first round underdog and upset Brooks 34-14. The Bulldogs wrap up regular season play next week against the 4th seed from region 3, the West Blocton Tigers.