By JEREMY RAINES | For the Reporter

MONTEVALLO – The 2018 football season kicked off for a pair of Bulldog teams as the Marbury High School Bulldogs traveled 40 miles north from Autauga County to face the Montevallo High School Bulldogs at Theron Fisher Stadium on Friday night, Aug. 24.

Although Marbury was able to capture a playoff appearance last season, both teams are coming off very disappointing seasons, as Marbury was only able to capture five wins in 2017, while Montevallo’s injury-plagued season left them with only three wins during its 2017 season.

Montevallo headed into this game having moved up in this year’s AHSAA classification with a move from 3A to 4A, while Marbury remained in the 5A classification.

Montevallo head coach Brandon Wilcox entered the game in his third season as the Montevallo Bulldogs’ head coach, and like many throughout the Montevallo community, he’s hopeful that this season shows much improvement in comparison to last year’s ending result.

Marbury’s offside penalty on the very first play of the game seemed to set the theme for the evening as both teams each saw their fair share of costly mistakes throughout the game.

On the same drive, Marbury committed another offside penalty on Montevallo’s fourth down play to help keep the drive alive. The very next play resulted in a deep pass for a touchdown setting the stage for the first half.

Marbury coughed up the ball on their next drive, but quickly received the ball back after forcing Montevallo to turn over the ball on a failed fourth down attempt.

As a result, Marbury running back Dantavius Bristow was able to pick up a 28-yard touchdown run.

It didn’t take long for Montevallo to strike back, though, as the Bulldogs soon responded with a pass from quarterback Malik Inabinette to Deon Gilliland to go up 14-7 halfway through the first quarter.

Marbury quickly returned the favor to Montevallo with a score once again through the quick speed of Gilliland on a 10-yard run to make the score 14-13 following a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

Montevallo struggled on its opening drive of the second quarter as a bad snap to the punter ended in a huge loss for the Bulldogs. This misfortune gave Marbury great field position leading to an eventual touchdown drive that saw MHS fall behind for the first time in the game, 21-14, after successfully tacking on a 2-point conversion.

Montevallo forced a fumble on Marbury’s next drive and took advantage on the ground with a 27-yard touchdown run by sophomore Orlandis Weeks. Montevallo attempted a 2-point conversion pass attempt, but the pass was dropped in end zone allowing Marbury to maintain a 21-20 lead late in the first half.

Montevallo’s defense showed its presence shortly after by forcing Marbury to turn the ball over on downs with a failed attempt on fourth-and-5, which Montevallo capitalized on with a 15-yard rushing touchdown run by Inabinette with just 55 seconds left in the first half propelling his team to a 28-21 lead at the half.

The second half began with a bobbled kick return by Marbury which pinned them deep in their own territory.

Montevallo’s defense quickly forced a punt, but a costly running into the kicker penalty kept Marbury’s drive alive leading to a long sustained drive that was capped off by a direct-snap touchdown run from Bristow propelling the Bulldogs back into the game; however, a failed PAT allowed Montevallo to maintain their one-point lead at 28-27.

After the two teams went back and forth with strong defensive stands throughout the fourth quarter, it was a clutch 44-yard yard pass to WR JJ Evans that gave Montevallo the late spark it needed to finish off Marbury with a 36-27 win. The pass happened on the home sideline, and sent the Montevallo crowd into a frenzy.

Inabinette had a great night in his first start, finishing with 14 completions in 28 attempts for 227 yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and no interceptions.

Evans led all receivers with 109 yards and one touchdown on just five catches. Davion Gilbert caught three balls for 67 yards and one touchdown as well.

On the ground, Weeks carried the ball nine times for 59 yards and one touchdown, while Deon Gilliland carried the ball seven times for 46 yards and one touchdown.

On the other side of the football, defensive leaders included Jayvion Seay who recorded 12 tackles and Tavicia Tutt who recorded 8 tackles.

The Montevallo Bulldogs will be on the road through their next three games with the stretch beginning in Columbiana on Aug. 31 against the Shelby County Wildcats.