BY JIM MAJORS

 

Maplesville ended Brantley’s hope of a second straight appearance in the Super 6 State Championship game Friday night defeating the Bulldogs 31-8.

The Red Devils received the ball to open the first quarter of play. It was a defensive battle in the first half of the game, with neither team getting on the board.

Brantley’s Ken’yada Teague had an interception and Brantley recovered three Maplesville fumbles.

With 28 seconds left in the second quarter, Maplesville’s Damian Mitchell scored a touchdown run from the 21- yard line.

Colby Chambers’ PAT was good for a score of 7-0 to end the first half.

Brantley received the ball at the beginning of the second half, but was unable to find the end zone.

Maplesville took the ball 77 yards on its first possession of the second half for another touchdown by Kendarius Bradley, but the Red Devils were unable to make the two-point conversion, going up by 13.

Both teams fought hard to maintain possession.

It was 9:47 left in the game before Chambers found Anthony Moore to add another Red Devils’ score putting them up 19-0 over Brantley.

With 4:35 left in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs finally got on the board, when Wesley Person Jr. connected with Kaisaun Nichols for a 34-yard touchdown pass, and Bulldogs the two point conversion, making the score 19-8.

Mitchell ran 53 yards to find the end zone for Maplesville Chambers’ PAT was good, giving the Red Devils a 25-8 lead.

Maplesville’s Jerry Nix added another TD in the fourth.

Brantley head coach Ashley Kilcrease told his players he couldn’t have asked for a better team in his first year as the Bulldogs’ head coach.

“It didn’t work out how we wanted it,” he said. “Everyone played with heart.”

The Bulldogs finish the season 11-3.

Additionally, Bulldog player Brandon Walker was injured during a play and taken to a local hospital.

No other information was available on Walker.