Selma falls short in road test
Published 12:57 am Saturday, September 3, 2011
Anton Summers (8) of Selma misses a pass in the end zone while Davon Lucious (20) blocks for Bryant during a game at Bryant High School. -- Michelle Lepianka Carter
By John McWilliams
The Tuscaloosa News
COTTONDALE — The Paul W. Bryant defense stepped up when called upon in the fourth quarter. With 17 seconds left in the game and Selma marching the ball on their own 41-yard line, Bryant stopped Selma by inches on fourth down to win 34-33.
Selma head coach Leroy Miles said the game tested his team.
“We tried and came up inches short, literally,” Miles said. “Bryant played great and stopped us at the end of the game. I wish I could have seen the spot of the ball a little bit better, but I trust the officials.”
Bryant’s Tony Whitehead scored the game-winning touchdown with a 16-yard run to put the Stampede up by one with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter. Whitehead put the team on his back with 95 rushing yards on 12 carries and 8 catches for 116 yards. Whitehead also scored on a 28-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Joe Pradat. Pradat finished the game 170 passing yards and one touchdown.
“I told my team in the huddle that I was going to come out and score,” Whitehead said. “I had all the pressure in the world on me and I did it.”
Rashad Scott scored the game’s first points with an 8-yard run to put Bryant ahead. Selma answered with 14-yard touchdown pass from Darion Alexander to Anton Summers to finish the first quarter. The second quarter saw two more touchdowns by Bryant and two from Selma. The half ended with Bryant on top 21-18.
Selma’s Derrick Howard scored on a 2-yard run for the Saints in the fourth quarter, but Bryant wouldn’t allow another point to be scored.
“This was the greatest game I’ve ever been a part of,” Paul Bryant senior linebacker Corey Hunter said. “We really came through when it mattered. We did what we had to do to win. We won by an inch, but we won it.”
Paul Bryant coach Chris Hilliker said he knew his team was in for a fight.
“This is what we expected tonight,” Hilliker said. “I saw a dog-fight out there. This team came together and played with a lot of heart and that’s what I’m proud of. We stuck it out.”
Bryant (2-0) will travel to Greenville next Friday night at 7 p.m.
