Montevallo loses first region game
Published 2:04 am Saturday, September 6, 2008
The excitement of a week one victory over rival Calera is officially over.
Montevallo hit the road Friday to open region play against a Dadeville Tigers team that was 0-10 last year.
Montevallo turned the ball over six times in a 38-27 loss.
After being named an Army Iron Man nominee for his season opening performance of four passing and two rushing touchdowns, Montevallo quarterback Kevin Callender threw for another four touchdowns this week, but also threw five interceptions and fumbled.
Callender’s night was overshadowed by counterpart Eric Vickers, who ran for two touchdowns and threw for three more. Vickers finished the night with 14-of-22 for 185 yards and three touchdowns.
Montevallo struck first when Callender found Brandon Lilly for a 69-yard touchdown pass just 1:10 into the game.
The extra point attempt was good Gilberto Fernandez, giving Montevallo a 7-0 lead.
Vickers though would even the score with 7:09 left in the first quarter when he ran the ball in from six yards out to tie the game at seven.
The Tigers then broke the game open with thee touchdown passes from Vikers.
Later in the first quarter Vickers connected on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Clint Westbrook. In the second quarter, he found Will Gulledge on 36-yard pass which extended the Tigers lead to 20-7. Before the half, Vickers connected with Tre McKinney on a 13-yard strike to go into halftime.
Montevallo’s second touchdown of the first half, came from a Callendar, who found Fulgham 43 yards downfield. Fernandez attempt was good, but the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 28-14 at halftime.
In the second half, the Tigers added a 36-yard field goal from Kyle Caldwell to extend the lead to 31-14.
Montevallo answered back when Callender found DaJuan Fulgham on a 21-yard
pass with 1:10 left in the third quarter. The extra point attempt was no good, leaving the score 31-20 at the end of the quarter.
Vickers then led the Tigers right back to start the fourth, taking the team to the Montevallo 11-yard line. On third down and one, Vickers took the ball around left end for an 11-yard touchdown score. The extra point was good, giving the Tigers a 38-20 lead.
The Bulldogs would strike back with 5:30 left in the game, when Callender found Fulgham again, this time for a 28-yard strike. The extra point attempt was good.
Montevallo was able to get the ball back one more time, but an interception by McKinney at the Tiger 27-yard line ended the threat. The Tigers were able to run off the remaining two minutes to secure the win.
Callender had a solid night with 200 yards passing and 120 yards rushing.
The first half was his worst, going 7-of-12 passing with two touchdowns but five interceptions. Callender finished the game 13-of-24 for 200 yards and four touchdowns.
Dadeville, now 2-0 and 1-0 in the region, travels to Marbury for their first road game of the season. Montevallo, now 1-1 and 0-1 in the region, return home for homecoming against region opponent Beulah.