By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

The Selma Middle CHAT Academy Bulldogs football team went undefeated last season, and was able to keep the winning streak alive, as they defeated the Westlawn Middle School Cougars 8-6 to open the season Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.

CHAT Academy head coach Ivery Williams said his team not giving up after getting down early was the key to winning the game.

“The key was just not giving up and the guys believing in the system,” Williams said. “We played a gutty team. This is the best team I’ve played against.”

Westlawn jumped out on top late in the first quarter after scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead.

The teams fought back and forth in a defensive struggle, as neither team was able to score in the second or third quarter.

With time running out in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs needed a big play and quarterback Achilles Rutledge answered the call.

Rutledge broke a 22-yard run to put the Bulldogs at the Cougars 9-yard line.

The Cougars stood tall and kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone for three plays, but on fourth down, it was Rutledge again who came through for CHAT Academy.

Rutledge found a wide open Christopher Caldwell for a 9-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 6-6 with 1:44 left in the game.

The Bulldogs scored the two-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead.

But the Cougars didn’t back down.

After a strong kickoff return, the Cougars were able to drive the ball to the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line.

But once again, Rutledge came to the rescue, as he intercepted a pass to put an end to the Cougar threat.

Rutledge said he has prayer and his teammates to thank for his strong performance.

“I prayed to God that I’d have a good game,” Rutledge said. “I just did the best I could. I had my team behind me and they did as well as they were supposed to do.”

The Bulldogs will take the field again next Tuesday when they travel to Demopolis to play Demopolis Middle School.