By Michael A. Cummings
The Cullman Times
ADDISON — ADDISON — Scott Curd knew his team played well enough to win.
Problem was, the other team did too.
The combination didn’t make the outcome any easier for the Addison High football coach to swallow.
“They all are (tough to lose),” said Curd, whose team fell 21-14 Thursday night against Class 2A, Region 7 leader Lamar County. “We played well enough to win. I really can’t ask any more of our guys.”
Trailing 14-13 in the fourth quarter, Lamar County scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-play, 67-yard drive that took 5:47 off the clock. Tyler Peppers’ 2-point run made it 21-14 with 4:33 left in the game.
Addison’s ensuing possession was extended by a pass-interference penalty on fourth-and-16, but the Bulldogs fumbled at the 50-yard line with 1:16 remaining to seal the Lamar County (7-0, 5-0) win.
It was Addison’ second heartbreaking Region 7 loss this season. The Bulldogs lost to Winston County 7-0 in week three after the Yellow Jackets used a trick play to score the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
“It was a tough game, but we’re going to go home and get pumped up for Sulligent,” said Addison’s Ryan Privett, who opened the scoring with a 54-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter. “Our minds are off this game right now.”
Addison (4-3, 3-2) held Lamar County to only 163 yards, but could muster just 119 of its own. The running game never got going, finishing with 33 yards on 31 attempts.
Lamar County rushed for 121 yards on 47 carries. Quarterback Wesley Bohannon was responsible for all three scores, completing touchdown passes to Ryan Romans (26 yards) and Jacob Ward (7), and adding a 16-yard run.
Addison opened the scoring on Privett’s punt return with 2:21 left in the first quarter, a play that almost didn’t happen. With the punt bouncing near midfield, Privett picked up the ball and went 54 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
“If that bounce hadn’t come right to me, I would’ve let it roll,” said Privett, who had one reception for 13 yards and one rush for three yards. “Once I got it, we got a great wall set up. No one was going to stop us.”
Lamar County responded with Bohannon’s scoring run and extended its lead with 6:32 left in the half on Romans’ touchdown reception. The extra point failed and Lamar County led 13-7.
Addison retook the lead when Jordan Rivers connected with Jake Russell for a 30-yard touchdown pass. It came on a play the Bulldogs hadn’t shown in a game this season.
“We’ve been doing it in practice,” said Rivers, who finished 7-for-10 for 86 yards and one touchdown. “We thought about running it in a game before, but we wanted to save it for a big game.”
The score remained the same until Lamar County’s game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
Blake Robinson led Addison with 25 yards on 17 carries, while Trent Godbee added 23 yards on 10 attempts. Bohannon paced Lamar County with 74 yards on 24 rushes, while Peppers added 26 yards on eight carries.
Each team had its share of turnovers on the muddy field. Lamar County lost four fumbles, while Addison lost two.
Addison travels to Sulligent (4-3, 3-2) next week for another Region 7 contest.
