ADDISON, Ala. – Addison entered Friday night with an unbeaten record and a region championship at stake. The Bulldogs left no doubt about either one.
Addison scored 33 unanswered points, intercepted four passes and defeated previously unbeaten Hackleburg 33-7 to complete a 10-0 regular season and claim the Class 1A, Region 7 championship.
The Bulldogs finished 7-0 in region play and secured the region’s No. 1 seed for the AHSAA playoffs. Hackleburg fell to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the region and will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed.
Hackleburg opened the scoring in the first quarter. Maddox Vickery and Timothy Stewart broke loose for long runs, and Stewart finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The point after gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Addison answered before the end of the opening quarter. Elijah Roberts connected with Judah Wilkins for a 21-yard touchdown, and the extra point tied the game at 7.
The Bulldogs moved in front during the second quarter. Roberts found Conner Lane on a long completion that moved Addison inside the Hackleburg 10-yard line, and Wilkins scored on a 6-yard run shortly afterward. Lane’s extra point made it 14-7.
The defenses traded takeaways later in the half. Roberts intercepted a Hackleburg pass at the Addison 22, but Stewart answered with an interception for the Panthers at the Hackleburg 44.
Scout Flynn then collected Addison’s second interception of the quarter and gave the Bulldogs possession at the Hackleburg 43.
Neither team scored again before halftime, and Addison carried its 14-7 advantage into the locker room.
Hackleburg threatened to tie the game in the third quarter and drove inside the Addison 25, but the Bulldogs intercepted another pass at their own 20.
Runs by Zane Smith, Wilkins and Roberts moved Addison downfield, and Roberts capped the possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Lane added the extra point to stretch the lead to 21-7.
Addison’s defense created another short field early in the fourth quarter. Michael Lee intercepted a pass and gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Hackleburg 20.
Roberts carried to the 6 before Smith scored on a 6-yard run. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Addison ahead 27-7.
The Bulldogs closed the scoring after a Hackleburg punt gave them possession at the Panthers’ 39.
Wilkins, Smith and Roberts moved the chains on the ground before Roberts scored on a 1-yard keeper. Another missed extra point produced the 33-7 final.
Roberts accounted for three touchdowns with two scoring passes and one rushing score. Wilkins and Smith each scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air.
Addison’s defense held Hackleburg scoreless over the final three quarters and recorded interceptions by Roberts, Flynn, Lee and another Bulldog defender.
Addison is open next week before beginning the Class 1A playoffs at home as Region 7’s No. 1 seed.
Hackleburg is scheduled to host Phil Campbell next week before opening the postseason at home as the region’s No. 2 seed.
