Despite losing star quarterback Kevin Callender and leading receiver Dajuan Fulgham, Montevallo was in position to hold on for a victory late in the fourth quarter at LaFayette Friday. But a deep pass, juggled by a LaFayette receiver with 13 seconds to play, lifted the Bulldogs past Montevallo, 28-21.

The game-winning drive was set up by a fumble as Montevallo was trying to run the clock out. The turnover, which was questioned by many Montevallo fans, and a couple of pass interference calls aided in LaFayette’s final drive.

Montevallo head coach Jim King said he did not see the play in question on second down, but thought his team had picked up the first down and was looking at the clock to make his next call when the official signaled LaFayette ball.

However, the blow delivered by the call and ensuing touchdown was not the biggest of the night for Montevallo (4-2).

Fulgham was taken off the field in the third quarter with a knee injury and Callender was removed from the field in the fourth with a leg injury. Both visited Lemak Sports Medicine Friday night and will return for further tests early next week.

“This is the reality of life. We get off the bus feeling good and have a chance to make a run at the region championship,” King said. “The reality of life is your world gets turned upside down in a second … We’ve got some adversity right now and we’ll have to see how we’re going to respond to it.”

Callender entered Friday’s game with more than 1,600 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns. The junior had completed 62 percent of his passes for 930 yards and 14 touchdowns and picked up another 754 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Fulgham entered the game with a team-leading 514 yards receiving for seven touchdowns and three interceptions and a touchdown on defense.

“It definitely hurts our team, no doubt. (Callender) is a major part of what we do. Everything funnels through him and it’s going to be a major adjustment to us,” King said. “But it’s not a one-man team. We’ll make some adjustments and we may have to tweak the offense some depending on what lineup we go with if we don’t get them back.”

Montevallo will test the new lineup next Friday at Marbury.