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Rolling on

Undefeated Anniston’s dominant form carries into first-round playoff victory over Fultondale.

Cover photo: Anniston players have a spirited huddle after stretches prior to their first-round Class 4A playoff game with Fultondale at Lott-Mosby Stadium. (Photo by Joe Medley/East Alabama Sports Today)

Thursday playoff scores

AHSAA Class 6A
Parker 42, Oxford 21, FINAL
AHSAA Class 4A
Alexandria 47, Fayette County 20, FINAL
Good Hope 28, Cherokee County 26, FINAL
Handley 40, Bibb County 7, FINAL
AHSAA Class 3A
Piedmont 59, Phil Campbell 19, FINAL
Winfield 39, Glencoe 0, FINAL
Randolph County 51, Thorsby 40, FINAL
AHSAA Class 2A
Pleasant Valley 40, Winston County 28, FINAL
AHSAA Class 1A
Hackleburg 32, Spring Garden 16, FINAL
Wadley 56, South Lamar 8, FINAL

Friday’s games

AHSAA Class 5A
Central-Clay 48, Sipsey Valley 7, FINAL
Jacksonville 14, Ramsay 7, FINAL (OT)
AHSAA Class 4A
Anniston 49, Fultondale 8, FINAL
AHSAA Class 3A
Westbrook Christian 49, Vinemont 0, FINAL
Gordo 49, Wellborn 0, FINAL
AHSAA Class 2A
Coosa Christian 56, Isabella 14, FINAL
AHSAA Class 1A
Hubbertville 67, Woodland 27, FINAL
AISA
Wilcox Academy 43, Hope Christian 6, FINAL
CFA
Championship
At Tuscaloosa
Russell Christian 74, Jacksonville Christian 28, FINAL

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

ANNISTON — Undefeated Anniston began the playoffs like it ended the regular season … rolling.

Jabari Williams ran for three touchdowns, Quintavious Cunningham ran for two and Damon Pope threw for two as the Bulldogs downed Fultondale 49-8 at Lott-Mosby Stadium on Friday.

Anniston (11-0) advanced to the second round and will play host to Madison Academy, which beat Hatton 20-19 on Friday.

“I’m always proud for the win,” third-year Anniston coach Rico Jackson said. “There’s still a lot of stuff to clean up, though. A lot of film where we can get better.

“That’s a good thing, because we’re still progressing.”

Anniston’s defense continued to show strength, holding a fifth consecutive opponent to one score. Fultondale (4-6) got on the board against Anniston’s reserves with 1:18 to play.
Charles Thomas led the Bulldogs with seven tackles, including a sack. Anniston has given up 109 points in 11 games, an average of 9.9.

“They just continue to show up and play,” Jackson said.

Williams scored on touchdown runs of one, 17 and seven yards. 

His and Anniston’s first touchdown came after the Bulldogs recovered a fumble at the Fultondale 25-yard line. Pope’s fourth-down scramble set up Williams’ third score, which made it 22-0 at 5:55 of the second quarter, and Williams opened the fourth quarter with his third touchdown.

Pope threw touchdown passes of 23 yards to Caleb Moore and four yards to Cunningham. Pope also completed conversion passes to Cunningham and Jakorie Carr.

Cunningham added a 5-yard touchdown run, and Jah-ray Gutierrez’s 5-yard touchdown run put Anniston up 49-0 at 5:55 of the fourth quarter.

Pope rushed for 87 of the Bulldogs’ 292 rushing yards and completed seven of 13 passes for 103 yards. WIlliams added 64 yards rushing, Gutierrez 59 and Willams 42.

“We’re playing good as a team, but there are some individual mistakes that some people are making,” Pope said. “We’re working on it.”

Fultondale-Anniston

–Kickoff 5 p.m. (early kickoff because of potential for inclement weather tonight)

FIRST QUARTER

–After Anniston recovers a fumble at Fultondale’s 25-yard line, Jabari Williams scores on a 1-yard TD run at 9:44. Damon Pope throws the conversion pass to Quintavious Cunningham. ANNISTON 8, FULTONDALE 0

SECOND QUARTER

–Two big Pope runs get Anniston in goal-to-go, and Cunningham scores on a 4-yard pop pass from Pope. Pope’s conversion pass is incomplete at 11:52. ANNISTON 14, FULTONDALE 0

–Williams’ scores on a 17-yard TD run after Pope makes a scramble play to convert fourth down. Pope throws to Jakorie Carr for the conversion at 5:55. ANNISTON 22, FULTONDALE 0

–Pope throws a 23-yard TD pass to Caleb Moore at 35.8 seconds. Dariontae Brooks kicks the extra point. ANNISTON 29, FULTONDALE 0

THIRD QUARTER

–Cunningham scores on a 5-yard TD run at 5:57. Conversion pass intercepted. ANNISTON 35, FULTONDALE 0

–Pope throws a 54-yard TD pass to Quimari Jones at 3:41, called back on offsetting penalties (facemask Fultondale, personal foul Anniston)

FOURTH QUARTER

–Williams adds a 7-yard TD run. PAT blocked at 11:53. ANNISTON 41, FULTONDALE 0

–Jah-ray Gutierrez scores on a 3-yard TD run at 5:55. Jamorris Young passes to Jones for the conversion. ANNISTON 49, FULTONDALE 0.

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