Written By: Daniel Payne
This past Friday night the Choctaws loaded up the buses for their third straight away game. This time they would trek up state highway 25 to take on the Montevallo Bulldogs in a key region game. With a big game looming the following week against #1 ACA, one would hope Bibb would not overlook this much improved Bulldogs team who came in looking for an upset.
Montevallo won the coin toss and elected to receive the kick. Following a 40 yard kick return the Bulldogs were set up with good field position at the Choctaws 35 yard line. However, just as it has all season, the Choctaws defense stiffened their necks and turned the Bulldogs away on a 4th down play to give the ball to their offensive teammates at the 33 yard line.
Bibb came out of the gate with 2 straight pass plays and then it was time to get Deshun Murrell going. And it didn’t take long as a few plays later Murrell broke free for a 43 yard touchdown run to put the Choctaws on the scoreboard first. The two point conversion try was no good leaving the score 6-0 with 9:49 to go in the first quarter.
After another stop by the defense, the Choctaws took over at the Bulldogs 43 yard line. Cole McCarty broke free for runs of 10 and 16 yards and then Murrell would do the rest. Murrell scored his second touchdown on the night from 5 yards out. Again the two point try was no good leaving the score 12-0 Choctaws with 2:29 left in the first half.
After both teams defenses turned away the opponents offenses in their next possessions, the Bulldogs finally found some life in their offense. Quarterback Jay Dreyer hit wide out Kial Cottingham for 48 yards to set the Bulldogs up at the Choctaws 32. Two plays later they would hook up again for a 32 yard touchdown connection. Gio Hernandez added the extra point and with 9:03 to go the Bulldogs had trimmed the lead to 12-7.
Letrell Morrison took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 25 yards to give the Choctaws the ball inside the Bulldogs territory to start their next drive. The offensive line, a.k.a. the Hawg Squad consisting of Landon Kinard, James Windham, John Hunter Watkins, Bo Burkes, and Preston Young continued to open up huge holes for the running game. Murrell again was the workhorse and scored his third touchdown of the first half on a 28 yard scamper. The extra point was no good leaving the score at 18-7 headed into the locker rooms for the half.
As the second half began, neither team could get the offense going and had to punt the ball away. But on the Choctaws second possession of the second half, Murrell got free and left a vapor trail that left Bulldogs chasing him to no avail as he raced 66 yards for his fourth touchdown on the night. The extra point was good by Baylor Hughey and Bibb had extended their lead to 25-7 with 7:23 to go in the third quarter.
The Choctaws defense forced yet another three and out and forced another Bulldog punt. After McCarty found a crease and gained 16 yards, Murrell would find pay dirt for the fifth time as he jaunted 56 yards untouched to make the score 31-7.
The rest of the game saw the Choctaws and Bulldogs let some younger guys see some action. The Choctaws reserves on defense are just as stingy as the first team and wouldn’t allow the Bulldogs to get anything going. The Choctaws scored the final touchdown as McCarty found Jacob Simmons wide open in the end zone on 4th and goal for a 8 yard touchdown to make the final score Bibb 37 to Montevallo 0.
Jaiqwon Lockett led the Choctaws on defense with 9 total tackles. Logan Browning pitched in with 6 while Cade Brown, Zack Gibson, Keiton Heard, and Jerrell Leverertt each had 5 total tackles.
Murrell on the night had 326 yards on 24 carries and 5 touchdowns. Jordan Goode added 51 yards on 8 carries while McCarty had 42 yards on just 4 carries.
On the night the Choctaws rushed for 419 yards and had a 443 yards in total offense. The defense held Montevallo to just 26 yards rushing and 159 yards of total offense.
Bibb, which is #2 in 4A moves to 4-0 (2-0 in the region) on the season and will now turn their eyes towards their first home game of the season against #1 American Christian. This is a huge region game with the winner taking complete control of the top spot in the region. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
With the restrictions due to Covid-19 only 1200 tickets will be sold. These will be sold at the gates in a first come, first serve basis. Hope to see you there.
