By JORDON SEMIEN/For the Reporter

TARRANT—The Montevallo Bulldogs gave everything they had to take down the Tarrant Wildcats Sept. 20, but fell just seconds short of a win, dropping the contest 20-14.

Tarrant began the game at its own 39 and stalled after nine yards on the ground.

Montevallo would take over at its18 and have their drive stall after two false starts and an extra man on the field negated a 9-yard carry by Dajion Young.

After another Wildcat stall, Montevallo milked the clock for first quarter. Zac Oden connected with Michael McKenzie on a 40-yard pass down to the Wildcat 25. The Bulldogs got to the Tarrant six, before three penalties backed them up to the Wildcat 21. The Bulldogs’ field goal unit tried for three, but came up empty as the kick went off the bottom post.

The Wildcats took over and faced a fourth and 15 at their own 17 as Tarrant tried a fake punt to pick up the first down, but was stopped well short of the first down.

The Bulldogs took advantage of the great field position with a short drive, culminating in a 4-yard carry by Chase Inabinett, taking a 7-0 lead with 5:23 left in the second quarter.

Tarrant tried to answer before the end of the half, driving to the Montevallo 33, before a tipped pass led to a Daymon Smith Interception at the Bulldog 5, leading to the end of the half.

The Wildcats answered back with a 69-yard run by (#7) and a two-point conversion, taking an 8-7 lead at 8:45 in the third. After matching three and outs, the Bulldogs scored on a tipped pass, brought in by Blake Smith for a 61-yard touch down, giving Montevallo a 14-8.

Tarrant forced its way 61 yards down field to a score; the two-point conversion try came up empty, leaving the game tied at 14 to start the fourth. The teams would swap three and outs, until the Wildcats found pay dirt with five seconds left in the game in a four yard run to take a 20-14 lead. The Bulldogs tried to make something happen on the ensuing kickoff, but were marked down at their own 30, ending the game.

After the game, Coach Zow said that the main message to his team would be to bounce back. “Regardless of what happens within these games, the next game has to be your best,” he said. “We can’t just keep our head down. We’ve got a long way to go. As a program, we’ve got a long way to go. As athletes, coaches, we just got to get it going.”

The Bulldogs continue their road trip Sept. 27 with a game against West Blocton, before returning home to face Midfield and Central-Coosa in consecutive weeks.