By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

NORTHPORT – Montevallo locked up the No. 2 playoff seed in Class 4A Region 4 with a convincing 23-0 lead against Northside High School on the road on Oct. 23.

As has been the case all season, the Bulldogs used explosive offensive plays en route to their victory. Quarterback Zac Oden found Blake Smith for a 55-yard touchdown toss with less than three minutes left in the first half to break the scoreless stalemate and give Montevallo a 7-0 lead on the road.

In the third quarter, Oden and Montevallo put the game out of reach when the junior quarterback found Jamal Figueroa for a 58-yard score and Ahmad Edwards for a 35-yard score to put the visiting Bulldogs up 20-0 after the third quarter. Diego Martinez added a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put an end to the scoring, and Montevallo moved to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in the region with the shutout win.

Oden went 16-21 for 306 yards and three touchdowns while throwing no picks. Edwards had seven catches for 128 yards and a score and had seven tackles and two interceptions on defense. Smith led the way for the defense with 11 tackles and one sack.

The 23-point output is the second-lowest point total of the season for the Bulldogs, and the shutout was the third of the year for Montevallo as well.

Montevallo will end the season next Friday at Billingsley before turning its attention to the playoffs.