By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

MONTEVALLO – After jumping up 13-0 over Bibb County on the road, Montevallo was outscored 42-7 the remainder of the game to loss 42-21 to the Choctaws on Friday night, Sept. 29.

It was a game where the jump up a classification for the Bulldogs was just too much as Bibb County wore down Montevallo over time just simply because of their depth.

“They were bigger, more physical and more experienced than we were,” Montevallo head coach Brandon Wilcox said after the tough loss. “We have to continue getting better and give our guys a chance to win moving forward the rest of the season.”

After a strong start in the game, the Bulldogs youth and inexperience started to play a part in a physical game against a 4A Bibb County team that is now 5-1 on the season.

“We just need to grow up,” Wilcox said. “Right now we have about two seniors and a handful of juniors, so we’re playing a lot of young guys. We have to be patient but have sense of urgency as well.”

It marked back-to-back weeks of tough competition for Montevallo as they fell 42-34 to Midfield on Sept. 22 in overtime and now 42-21 to Bibb County after holding a 13-0 lead.

“I think playing good competition brings the best out of you,” Wilcox said. “You find out where you stack up, what you’re deficiencies are and what kind of character you have. It gets you ready to play region games moving forward.”

Bibb County’s Erin Heard had 14 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Choctaws in the win.

Jay Sullens was 13-of-27 for 163 yards and one touchdown for Montevallo, while also adding 26 rush attempts for 100 more yards and two additional touchdowns as he paced the Bulldogs. J.J. Evans snagged three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Montevallo will get a 3-2 Greene County at home next week, a 4-1 Oakman team the week after, a 4-1 Gordo team the week after that and a 2-4 Carbon Hill to end region play.

The Greene County and Carbon Hill games are must wins if this team wants to make the playoffs in 2017.

“We have to get better one day at a time and encourage each other,” Wilcox said. “We’re doing some things that are good. We have to focus on those things and maximize those things we do well and minimize what we don’t.”