Football season ends, the
memories of the excitement and the thrills will last
The 1999 football season
has come to an end, and the Brantley Bulldogs along with their loyal
fans had a season that will long be remembered. The excitement and
thrills of this year were indeed much more than anyone could expect
or deserve. We were drawn closer as friends, as classmates, and as supporters.
We have experienced the
thrill of victory, 14 times, and the agony of defeat, only once. The
goal of the team was set high, a state championship; they worked for
an opportunity to play for that championship, they achieved that
opportunity. But, fate ruled when time ran out with Courtland
victorious, 13-10. Worthy champions they are, more determined than
ever are we.
To the senior players, Bo
Daniels, Lavon Brooks, Shaun Person, Zack Burnett, Jonathan Smith,
and Javares Cooper, you will be missed. With a state championship in
'98 and state runner-up in '99, you have raised the bar of success
for underclassmen to seek.
Congratulations to first
year head coach David Lowery. You have won the admiration of your
players and supporters. Your staff, Roland Jones, Ashley Kilcrease,
Waylon Bush, Chad Carpenter, and Phillip Griffin could not be more
dedicated to the youth of our school and community.
The true character of this
team was shown after the heart breaking lost in the championship game
when sophomore Bobby Phillips said, " I can't wait until Monday
to get back in the weight room. We are going to work our way back to Birmingham".
Game Stats
|
BHS |
CHS |
|
First Downs |
14 |
15 |
|
Rushes-yards |
32-129 |
50-231 |
|
Passing yards |
130 |
8 |
|
Comp-Att-Int |
9-16-1 |
1-5-1 |
|
Return Yards |
99 |
46 |
|
Punts-Avg |
2-45 |
2-44 |
|
Fumbles-Lost |
1-0 |
3-0 |
|
Penalties |
4-24 |
4-20 |
|
Time Possession |
23:39 |
24:21 |
Individual Stats:
RUSHING:-BHS, Daniels 21-83, Owens 7-33, Johnson 4-13. CHS, Harris
30-134, Hampton 7-97, Bibbs 6-22, Williams 2- (minus 3), Key 5-
(minus 19)
PASSING: BHS- Johnson 9-15-1,
130 yards: Daniels, 0-1-0; CHS- Key, 1-5-1-8 yards
RECEIVING: BHS- Burnett 4-83;
Daniels 3-1; Owens 1-27; Daniels 1-19; CHS- Harris 1-8
|
Championship slips away from "Dawgs"
The
Brantley Bulldogs saw their hopes and dreams of back to back state
championships disappear Thursday at Birmingham's Legion Field before
a huge following from the Brantley area. The Courtland Chiefs came
out victorious in a hard fought Class 1A State Championship game by a 13-10
score.
It
was a game that saw the "Dawgs" lead almost 40 minutes of
the 48 minute contest only to see the Chiefs battle back from a 7-0
and a 10-6 deficits to gain their third state 1A crown in the 1990s.
The
lost was Brantley's first in the last 21 games dropping their 1999
record to a very impressive 14-1 mark.
Brantley
jumped out front 7-0 in the first quarter when quarterback Andy
Johnson kept the ball and raced 11 yards for the game's first
touchdown. Courtland answered in the second but failed to convert the
PAT and trailed Brantley 7-6 at the half time intermission.
Strong
defensive play dominated the 3rd quarter, then early in the 4th
period Greg Daniels booted a 38 yard field goal to push the lead to
10-6. At this point Courtland loaded up their powerful running game
behind an offensive line that averaged 6-3, 289 pounds, and powered
their way for what would be the winning score at 3:40 left in the game.
Brantley
failed to quit and Chauncey Burnett's 52 yard kick-off return had
the dream still alive. Two first downs later, Brantley faced 4th down
with 17 seconds remaining in the game. Greg Daniels attempted a 28
yard field goal that would have put the game in over-time, but the
kick sailed left on him and the dream turned into a nightmare as
Brantley could only watch as the final 10 seconds ran off the clock.
Some
dreams do have a bad ending, but the memories of this 1999 Brantley
Bulldog team was a wonderful dream in itself. What a season!!!
Congratulations to all the coaches, players, cheerleaders, and fans
for your 14-1 mark. Your pride, your spirit, and your dreams have
been an inspiration to so many. Thanks for letting all of us share
these special times!!!
|
Super
Six, 1-A State Championship Game
Courtland
13 Brantley 10
Scoring
Summary
First
Quarter
(B)
Andy Johnson, 11 yard run, Greg Daniels kick PAT, 7-0, 6:13
Second
Quarter
C)
Mario Harris, 2 yard run, kick fail, 7-6, 5:59
Fourth
Quarter
(B)
Greg Daniels, 39 yard FG, 3:40
(C)
Mario Harris, 9 yard run, Harris kick PAT, 13-10, 3:01
Scoreboard
|
Courtland |
0 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
|
Brantley |
7 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Final: Courtland 13 Brantley 10 |
|
