Montevallo blanks winless Dallas County
Published 1:03 am Saturday, September 8, 2018
Zeke Pigg continues to search for his first victory as Dallas County High’s coach.
Quarterback Malik Inabinette threw for 241-yards and four touchdowns as Montevallo pounded the Hornets 41-0 on Friday night at Southside High School.
The Region 3-4A opener for both teams was moved to Southside because a transponder blew at Dallas County High’s stadium. Southside accommodated Dallas County because they were on the road.
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 Thaddeus Evans Jr. 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 two-point conversion run.
Montevallo scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, closing out the game’s scoring.
Inabinette scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Evans. Gilliand ran in a two-point conversion.
Inabinette credited the Bulldogs’ 10 other offensive starters for his success. He completed 19 of 25 passes.
“The offensive line played great, gave me time to throw and the receivers made great catches,” Inabinette said.
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.
Pigg said the Hornets still have a shot at a winning season and the 4A state playoffs if some things chance. The Hornets travel to Sumter Central next Friday.
“The guys fought their tails off,” Pigg said. “It’s the first time this season I’ve seen them do that. I think we can be a good team if we can gel together and get rid of the selfishness. We’re going to surprise some people.”