By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

R.B. Hudson is one game away from completing a perfect season for the first time since 2011.

The Bulldogs (7-0) rode a dominant first half to defeat the Ellwood Christian Eagles (0-4) 48-16 at Memorial Stadium Tuesday. None of R.B. Hudson’s five first half touchdown drives lasted more than three plays as the Bulldogs marched down the field at will, doing whatever they could to keep the perfect season alive.

“We keep them together, we work them hard and then we keep the players humble to let them know, ‘If you don’t buy into what we’re doing, then you’re not going to play,’” said R.B. Hudson head coach Eugene Foster.

Amarian Molette was the early star of the game. R.B. Hudson’s first two offensive plays were a Molette 32-yard rush and a Molette 18-yard touchdown run.

Molette intercepted Ellwood’s Justin Buford on the next drive. Tre’derin Phillips ran it in from 12 yards out as the first quarter wound down, and Molette added the 2-point conversion to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“[Molette] did a great job tonight,” Foster said. “He got the offense started. He made some big runs early in the game. His blocking was really important.”

Phillips added a 26-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Nicholas Parnell passed for two touchdowns to give the Bulldogs a 32-0 advantage at halftime.

“I’m going to give credit where credit is due,” said Ellwood head coach Derrick Edwards. “They’re a very good football team. They have more football experience than we do.”

In the Bulldogs’ first drive lasting more than three plays, Kenterrius Carter finished it off with a 14-yard touchdown run. Phillips added the two-point conversion to make it 40-0 with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.

Buford didn’t want Ellwood to get shut out, so he took off on a 48-yard touchdown run, breaking multiple tackles to give the Eagles their first points of the game with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

Londarious Dean ran in the two-point conversion, and Ellwood trailed 40-8 at the end of three quarters.

With 4:49 remaining in the game, Carter added his second touchdown of the half with a 2-yard run and punched in the two-point conversion.

Despite trailing by 40, Ellwood continued fighting back, as Derrick Edwards Jr. ran for a 23-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. Buford added the two-point conversion for the final points of the game.

“That’s one of the moments as a coach that make you proud because they didn’t quit,” Edwards said. “They could have easily quit being down 32-0, but no, they kept fighting until the end of the game.”

Ellwood has two games at Tipton to end the season.

Edwards said he believes the talent of R.B. Hudson has prepared his team well to finish the season strong against Tipton.

The Bulldogs have one final game remaining Tuesday against Demopolis. If they win that game, they will finish unbeaten for just the third time in school history.