Holtville football, over the past few seasons, has not been one to handle adversity well. Friday night it got a heavy dose of it and didn’t shy away. In fact the Bulldogs brought the fight to a prolific Sylacauga squad on the way to picking up a 31-27 victory and securing the first playoff game at Boykin Field since the Reagan administration.
“Our defense played a whale of a game,” said a breathless Jason Franklin after the Bulldogs’ win. “They played outstanding tonight. In the second half, (our defense) just played their tail off. But against good teams, you’re going to do that.”
kAmtG6? H:E9@FE E96:C E2:=D[ E96 qF==5@8D Wf\aX >2?2865 E@ 9@=5 E96 f\a p88:6D E@ E96:C D64@?5 =@H6DE @776?D:G6 E2==J E9:D D62D@?] r6?EC2= r=2J 96=5 E96> E@ aa A@:?ED 62C=:6C :? E96 D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“%@ 36 23=6 E@ 5@ E92E … 7@C @FC 5676?D6 E@ 4@>6 @FE 2?5 86E 2 4@FA=6 @7 3:8 7@FCE9 5@H? DE@AD =:<6 E96J 5:5[ E92E 8@E E96 32== 324< E@ @FC @776?D6 2?5 E96 >@>6?EF>[” uC2?<=:? D2:5]k^Am
kAm$J=242F82[ E9@F89[ =@@<65 =:<6 :E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 4CF:D6 E9C@F89 :ED =2E6 ~4E@36C G:D:E E@ $=2A@FE[ D4@C:?8 @? E96 7:CDE A=2J @7 E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm%96 eg\J2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD[ 9@H6G6C[ H2D ?682E65 3J A6?2=EJ 2?5 H92E 7@==@H65 H2D 2 4CFD9:?8 5@D6 @7 8C66?\4=25 A9JD:42=:EJ 2D E96 qF==5@8 5676?D6 DEF7765 ;F?:@C CF??:?8 324< |2=66< !@A6 @? 2 7@FCE9\2?5\E9C66]k^Am
kAmw@=EG:==6 — @? :ED 7:CDE A@DD6DD:@? — =@DE 4@?EC@= @7 E96 7@@E32== 2?5 AFE E96 p88:6D 324< @? D4965F=6]k^Am
kAm$J=242F82’D qC2JD@? t5H2C5D[ E9:D E:>6 @? 2 E9:C5 5@H?[ 4@??64E65 H:E9 r2=63 qFC?D 7@C E96 D4@C6 2E E96 didg >2C< :? E96 7:CDE 7C2>6]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 A@:?E 27E6C[ E96 p88:6D AFD965 29625[ f\_]k^Am
kAmxE E@@< D@>6 E:>6 2?5 2? 6I492?86 @7 A@DD6DD:@?D[ 3FE D@A9@>@C6 qF==5@8 E2:=324< sC6H !:4<6EE BF:6E=J H6?E E@ H@C<] p7E6C 2? g\J2C5 !:4<6EE A=F?86[ qC2IE@? qF4< 4@??64E65 H:E9 $92H? qC24<6EE @? 324<\E@\324< A2DD6D E@ D6E E96 8C66?\96=>6E65 9@>6 DBF25 FA :?D:56 E96 p88:6 `_]k^Am
kAm!:4<6EE[ @? D64@?5 2?5 8@2=[ E@@< E96 92?5@77 2?5 49FC?65 9:D H2J :?E@ E96 @A6? 2?5 :?E@ E96 6?5 K@?6 7@C E96 D4@C6] sC2<6 #:@C52? 25565 E96 A@:?E 27E6C 2?5 <?@EE65 E96 82>6[ f\f]k^Am
kAm!:4<6EE 7:?:D965 E96 ?:89E aec J2C5D @7 E@E2= @776?D6]k^Am
kAm“x 766= =:<6 W>6 CF??:?8 E96 32==X :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E H6’G6 366? 5@:?8 2== D62D@?[” !:4<6EE D2:5] “x ;FDE 5:5 H92E x’> DFAA@D65 E@[ H92E x’G6 366? 4@24965 E@ 5@ — ;FDE 6I64FE6] |J @776?D:G6 =:?6 :D E96 36DE — @9 >J v@5[ E96J 2C6 E96 36DE] x 42?’E DEC6DD E9:D 6?@F89] %96J 5:5 H92E E96J 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 5@ E96 H9@=6 82>6] %9:D :D E96 36DE @776?D:G6 =:?6 x’G6 6G6C 925]”k^Am
kAm#:@C52?[ 27E6C $J=242F282 96=5 E96 qF==5@8D >@E:@?=6DD[ 5C@AA65 9:D AF?E 2E E96 @AA@D:?8 aa]k^Am
kAm%H@ A=2JD =2E6C — 2? `g\J2C5 t5H2C5D E@ qFC?D 9@@<\FA — 2?5 2 e_\J2C5 !@A6 D42>A6C[ E96 p88:6D 32?5 H2D ;F3:=2?E 46=63C2E:?8 2 `c\f =625]k^Am
kAm%96 qF==5@8D — 27E6C 2 D6C:6D @7 @776?D:G6 >:D4F6D — =:?65 FA E@ D6?5 E96 32== D2:=:?8 324< @G6C E@ E96 p88:6D @? 2 7@FCE9 5@H? 2E 7:G6 2E E96:C @H? bc]k^Am
kAmuC2?<=:? 2?5 9:D 4@2496D C@==65 E96 5:46 2?5 42==65 7@C 2 5@D6 @7 EC:4<6CJ E@ :?;64E >@E:G2E:@? :?E@ 9:D 32== 4=F3]k^Am
kAm%96 D?2A E@ #:@C52? H2D A6C764E E96 D6?:@C E@@< @?6 DE6A E96? C@==65 =67E 2?5 E@DD65 E96 32== 5@H?7:6=5 E@ 2? @A6? r@@A6C |2?? 7@C 2 ce\J2C5 82:? 2?5 2 7:CDE 5@H?]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 H@C<65 @? E92E 6G6CJ 52J D:?46 yF=J E96 a_\H92E6G6C[ H96? H6 7:CDE DE2CE65 AC24E:46[” D2:5 uC2?<=:?] “WuC:52J ?:89EX H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 H6 FD65 :E] (6 96=5 :E :? @FC A@4<6E[ 96=5 @? E@ :E F?E:= H6 8@E E96 A6C764E =@@< 2?5 … :E H2D 3:8] %92E H2D 2 3:8 E:>6 3J @FC AF?E6C >2<:?8 E96 E9C@H 2?5 r@@A6C >2<:?8 E96 42E49[ AFEE:?8 FD :? A@D:E:@? E@ AF?49 @?6 :? 2?5 E:6 E96 82>6 FA]”k^Am
kAm!:4<6EE[ @? D64@?5 5@H?[ 42CC:65 E96 qF4< 92?5@77 `d\J2C5D 7@C E96 E@F495@H?]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 <:4< EJ:?8 E96 D4@C6[ 3@E9 E62>D H6?E :?E@ E96 3C62< <?@EE65 2E `c\`c]k^Am
kAm%96 p88:6D — 27E6C EFC?:?8 E96 qF==5@8D 2H2J @? 7@FCE9 5@H? E@ DE2CE E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5 — A@AA65 @77 E96:C 5C:G6 H:E9 2 a`\J2C5 !@A6 CF?] t5H2C5D E@ 2 =62A:?8 {F<6 ':?46?E 7C@> af\J2C5D @FE 42AA65 E96 5C:G6 2?5 AFE $J=242F82 FA a`\`c H:E9 eiaa @? E96 E9:C5\BF2CE6C 4=@4<]k^Am
kAm%96 qF==5@8D 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ 2?DH6C[ DEC:?8:?8 E@86E96C 2 `a\A=2J f_\J2C5 5C:G6 E92E 4F=>:?2E65 H:E9 !:4<6EE FE:=:K:?8 2 72?4J 5@D6 @7 7@@EH@C< E@ D4@C6 7C@> `b\J2C5D @FE] %96 <:4<[ 282:?[ 6G6?65 E96 82>6 2E a`\a`]k^Am
kAm$J=242F82 7@C465 2 EFC?@G6C EH@ A=2JD 27E6C 36:?8 7@C465 E@ AF?E 2?5 E@@< @G6C 2E w@=EG:==6’D bg] p `h\J2C5 A2DD >@G65 E96 32== :?D:56 E96 a_]k^Am
kAmp EC:@ @7 !@A6 CF?D >@G65 H9:E6\4=25 G:D:E@CD E@ E96 ``\J2C5 =:?6]k^Am
kAmt=64E:?8 E@ 8@ 7@C :E @? 7@FCE9 5@H?[ E96 qF==5@8 5676?D6 DEJ>:65 !@A6 2E E96 =:?6 @7 D4C:>>286 7@C4:?8 E96 EFC?@G6C @? 5@H?D]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 32== 2?5 E96 >@>6?EF>[ w@=EG:==6 H@C<65 E@ E2<6 25G2?E286]k^Am
kAm~? D64@?5 2?5 =@?8 7C@> E96:C @H? `e[ qF4< 5:2=65 FA 2 D4C66?\A2DD E@ !:4<6EE E92E H2D A6C764E=J E:>65 2D >@C6 p88:6D H6C6 492D:?8 E96 BF2CE6C324< 2?5 5:5?’E ?@E:46 E96 324< 5C:7E:?8 @FE 2?5 H2:E:?8 7@C E96 32==] (:E9 2 9@DE @7 qF==5@8 3=@4<6CD =625:?8 E96 H2J[ !:4<6EE 3C@<6 7C66 7@C dh\J2C5D 367@C6 36:?8 <?@4<65 @FE @7 3@F?5D 3J qFC?D :?D:56 E96 $J=242F82 a_]k^Am
kAm|:I:?8 CF?D 36EH66? qF4<[ !:4<6EE 2?5 qC24<6EE[ E96 qF==5@8D >@G65 E@ :?D:56 E96 7:G6 2?5 H6C6 A@:D65 E@ 4@?G6CE 2 7@FCE9\5@H? 2?5 @?6 367@C6 86EE:?8 29625 @7 E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAmp? @77D:56 42== >@G65 E96 32== 324< E@ E96 `_]k^Am
kAm#:@C52? C2465 @?E@ E96 7:6=5 2?5 D6?E E96 32== E9C@F89 E96 FAC:89ED 4@?G6CE:?8 E96 af\J2C5 7:6=5 8@2= H:E9 biac =67E :? E96 82>6] %96 D4@C6 82G6 w@=EG:==6 E96:C 7:CDE =625 @7 E96 ?:89E]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 ?6G6C H@F=5 92G6 E9@F89E W2 D62D@? =:<6 E9:DX H@F=5 92G6 92AA6?65[” uC2?<=:? D2:5]k^Am
kAm$J=242F82[ 5@H? E@ :ED =2DE 3=:AD @7 =:76[ H2D F?23=6 E@ 4@?G6CE 2 7@FCE9 5@H? 2D qFC?D H2D >6E H:E9 2 9@DE @7 2>A65 FA qF==5@8D @? 2 c\2?5\=@?8 A2DD 8:G:?8 A@DD6DD:@? 324< E@ w@=EG:==6]k^Am
kAm!:4<6EE[ @? 7:CDE 5@H?[ 3C@F89E E96 DE2?5D 2?5 E96 32?5 2?5 E96 qF==5@8D :? 86?6C2= E@ =:76 H:E9 2 bg\J2C5 F?E@F4965 CF? :?E@ E96 6?5 K@?6] %96 D4@C6 2?5 E96 <:4< 82G6 w@=EG:==6 2 b`\a` =625 H:E9 ai_a =67E :? E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm“xE 76=E 8@@5j :E D64FC65 E96 82>6[” !:4<6EE D2:5] “x H2D 6I4:E65]”k^Am
kAm$J=242F82[ E9@F89[ H2D?’E C625J E@ 3@2C5 E96 3FD]k^Am
kAmt5H2C5D 4@>A=6E65 2 `h\J2C5 A2DD E@ ':?46?E E96? E@DD65 2 cb\J2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD] w@H6G6C[ E96 A@:?E 27E6C EFC?65 :?E@ 2? 25G6?EFC6 2?5 H2D ?@ 8@@5]k^Am
kAms@H? 7@FC[ E96 p88:6D 6=64E65 E@ DBF:3 E96 <:4<@77 E@ 2? F?=:<6=J qF==5@8] %96 32== 3@F?465 2?5 42C@>65 @77 E96 EFC7 367@C6 36:?8 4@CC2==65 3J w@=EG:==6]k^Am
kAm!:4<6EE 42CC:65 E96 32== EH@ >@C6 E:>6D 7@C4:?8 $J=242F82 E@ FD6 E96:C 7:?2= E:>6 @FE]k^Am
kAmqF4<[ @? E96 G6CJ ?6IE A=2J[ E@@< E96 D?2A 2?5 <?66=65 6?5:?8 E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm“%9:D H2D 2 8C62E EF?6\FA 7@C E96 E9:?8D E@ 4@>6[” uC2?<=:? D2:5] “(6 92G6?’E 925 2 82>6 2== J62C E92E 92D?’E 366? A9JD:42= 2?5 E96 8FJD 92G6 C:D6? FA E@ E96 @442D:@? 6249 E:>6 2?5 x’> AC@F5 @7 E9:D 3F?49]”k^Am
kAm%96 H:? 8F2C2?E66D E96 qF==5@8D 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 A=2J@77 82>6[ E96:C 7:CDE D:?46 `hge] uC@> E96 =@@<D @7 E9:?8D[ 27E6C EC2G6=:?8 E@ #66=E@H? ?6IE H66<[ w@=EG:==6 H:== 9@DE A@DED62D@? DE2=H2CE &|$\(C:89E :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5]k^Am
kAm“Wv@:?8 E@ E96 A=2J@77DX :D 2>2K:?8[ 9@?6DE=J[” !:4<6EE D2:5]k^Am
