By Chris Megginson | For the Reporter

MONTEVALLO – Twenty-nine unanswered points put the Montevallo Bulldogs back in the win column Sept. 15 as the Bulldogs defeated the B.B. Comer Tigers, 42-12, for Homecoming and their home opener at Theron Fisher Stadium.

The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead on a Tavarius Holman touchdown run. Comer answered, but so did Montevallo to make it 13-6. The Tigers kept it a one-point game, 13-12, at the end of the first quarter.

Montevallo pulled away with a 22-point second quarter to take a 35-12 lead into halftime. Jay Sullens threw for two touchdowns in the first half to JJ Evans and Davion Gilbert. Holman added a second touchdown run, while Demetrius Smith had a touchdown run and two 2-point conversions. Sullens finished the game with 144 yards passing and 121 yards rushing on 11 carries.

“I thought we started slow,” said Montevallo head coach Brandon Wilcox. “They played harder than we did early in the game, but I was proud of our guys for correcting that and picking it up as the game went on. That’s something we need to get better in the future of starting fast and finishing strong.”

Will Howell led the Montevallo defense with 10 tackles. Gilbert helped put the game away midway in the second half with a pick-six for the Bulldogs to go up 42-12. He finished the night with 109 yards receiving on three catches.

“I thought as the game progressed we kind of wore them down on defense. Coach (Mike) Battles does a really good job coaching the guys up. I thought our guys did a good job capitalizing on some of their mistakes,” Wilcox said.

Montevallo (2-1) will return to Class 3A, Region 4 play Sept. 22 when it travels to Midfield.