Bulldogs stand up for state
- Updated: August 27, 2022
Anniston hosts Villa Rica (Ga.) in playoff-like atmosphere and prevails24-19 for second straight win
By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today
There was a playoff-like atmosphere in the stadium as the Anniston Bulldogs hosted the Villa Rica (Ga.) Wildcats Friday night. The Bulldogs took a punch early, then stormed out to a 24-6 lead and then shook off two late touchdowns to win 24-19.
“It took us a while to adjust to their speed, but we made some good adjustments on defense,” Anniston coach Rico White said.
His Bulldogs (2-0) battered the Wildcats physically, but tired late in the game and the visitors from Georgia scored two touchdowns in the last six minutes to make it close.
“You cannot judge their speed on film, but they are a good football team,” White said. “We needed to get in a tight game and see how we would do. We made a few mistakes, but it was a great experience for us.”
The Bulldogs don’t lose often when they take on teams from Georgia. They are 11-6 against the six teams from Georgia they’ve played all-time and don’t have a losing record to any of them.
Fans were still arriving at Lott-Mosby Stadium when the Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and scored in just six plays. Quarterback Kam Sandlin found Jaylon Cunningham in the end zone on 24-yard scoring pass. The Bulldog try for two failed and left the lead 6-0.
Villa Rica’s next two possessions ended on fumbles created by the hard-hitting Bulldog defense. One came at the Anniston 2 and one at the 26.
The speed of Devan Barnes was giving the Anniston defense all kind of problems, as he gained over 100 in the first half, but did not get into the endz one.
The Wildcats lined up to punt away their fourth possession, but punter Isaiah Johnson tucked it and for 58 yards and the Wildcats were up 7-6 late in the first quarter.
This lit a fire under the Anniston offense. The Bulldogs pushed across two second-quarter touchdowns and were held on downs inside the Wildcats 15 at the end of the quarter.
Malachi Taylor got the first touchdown on a 3-yard run and Sandlin got the second when he ran it in from 11 yards. The Bulldogs missed both extra point conversions, but held an 18-6 lead at the half.
Sandlin added a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to stretch the lead, but the Bulldogs kick failed on another extra point try.
Sandlin, a South Carolina commitment, was 7-of-16 passing for 113 yards and rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries.
“I feel like I had a good game and the offensive line did a great job up front,” said Sandlin.
Anniston 24, Villa Rica 19
| VR (19) | ANN (24) | |
| 12 | 1st Downs | 14 |
| 35-215 | Rushes-yards | 42-223 |
| 6-13-0 | Comp-Att-Int | 7-16-1 |
| 44 | Passing yards | 115 |
| 2-34.0 | Punts-avg | 1-35.0 |
| 9-70 | Penalties-yards | 6-50 |
| Villa Rica (0-1) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 – | 19 |
| Anniston (2-0) | 6 | 12 | 6 | 0 – | 24 |
A – Jaylon Cunningham 24 pass from Kam Sandlin (run failed), 9:16 1Q
VR – Isaiah Johnson 58 run (Nolan Alba kick), 2:03 1Q
A – Malachi Taylor 3 run (run failed), 8:49 2Q
A – Kam Sandlin 11 run (kick failed), 3:58 2Q
A – Kam Sandlin 3 run (kick failed), 1:14 3Q
VR – Caiden Reed 35 run (kick failed), 5:38 4Q
VR – Jaiden Terry 8 run (pass failed), 1:36 4Q
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