The Montevallo Bulldogs closed out the 2006 football season last Friday night, falling to Pike County 49-12 on the road in the first round of the state 3A playoffs.

But Montevallo head football coach Jim King was able to find positives in spite of the defeat.

He said his (7-4) Bulldogs went to Pike County to win and everyone played hard. &8220;I was proud of the fact we were not intimidated,&8221; he said.

King said he was also glad his players got to play in the game atmosphere of state playoffs.

But turnovers hurt the Bulldogs.

Montevallo fumbled once and gave up three interceptions.

&8220;We made mistakes and they didn&8217;t,&8221; said King.

Two touchdowns in a span of two and one half minutes by Pike County turned the contest and things snowballed from there.

Phillip Evans led the Bulldogs with 104 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Desmond Piper completed five of 13 passes for 77 yards and two interceptions.

Kelvin Reed proved to be the Bulldogs&8217; leading receiver with three catches for 62 yards.

The contest started out evenly enough. Pike County scored in the first quarter and Montevallo responded in the second on a 7-yard Phillip Evans run to make it a 7-6 ball game.

Pike County responded with another touchdown to go up 14-6 and it looked as if Montevallo might answer.

But a turnover and two Pike County touchdowns at the 1:17 and O: 44 mark of the second quarter sent things awry.

The most Montevallo could do from there was a 13-yard TD pass from Piper to Reed to help make it a 49-12 contest.

But going 7-4 and getting a winning record was big for the Bulldogs this season. King said it had been so long since the Bulldogs had been the playoffs they were in need of a good season for the program, the community and the guys on the team.