By JAMES JONES | For the Reporter 

PLANTERSVILLE – Montevallo quarterback Malik Inabinette threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns as Montevallo pounded the Dallas County Hornets 41-0 on Friday, Sept. 7, at Southside High School, to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Class 4A, Region 3 opener for both teams was moved to Southside because a transponder blew at Dallas County High’s stadium, but Montevallo made sure their offense was blowing up during the game.

Dallas County Zeke Pigg made no excuses about the Hornets’ performance. The Hornets (0-2, 0-1) committed five turnovers, leading to three Montevallo touchdowns.

“Three turnovers cost us 21 points,” Pigg said. “Without the turnovers, it should be a 15-0 game, but all everyone will remember is 41-0. We played hard and we made them drive down the field on us.”

Montevallo (3-0, 1-0) jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. Inabinette’s 51-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Evans opened the game’s scoring.

The Bulldogs scored 20 second-quarter points, extending their lead to 27-0 at halftime.

Inabinette threw touchdown passes of 18 yards to Isa Harris and four yards to Jemari Harris. Deon Gilliand scored on a 10-yard touchdown run and Orlandis Weeks added a 2-point conversion run.

Montevallo added to the blowout with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, closing out the game’s scoring for a 41-0 statement win to kick off region play.

Inabinette scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Evans. Gilliand ran in a 2-point conversion as well.

Inabinette credited the Bulldogs’ 10 other offensive starters for his success. He completed 21-of-28 passes on the night.

“The offensive line played great, gave me time to throw and the receivers made great catches,” Inabinette said.

Aside from Inabinette, Gilliland ended the night with 93 yards rushing, while Evans led the team in receiving with 105 yards.

Defensively, Tavicia Tutt led the Bulldogs with seven tackles, while the entire defense forced four fumbles in the game.

The Hornets remained without junior quarterback Octavious Palmer, who dislocated his hip in a jamboree against Selma High on Aug. 24.

Junior Patrick Callens started as quarterback and alternated with senior Se’Vaughn Brown in the second half. Each had runs over 30 yards, but they couldn’t get the Hornets in the end zone.

Montevallo will now travel to take on Jemison in a non-region matchup on Sept. 14, marking the Bulldogs’ third consecutive road game before a difficult matchup with American Christian on Sept. 21 at home.