Region 1 Scores from Week 1

UMS-Wright 28 - St. Paul's 29

B. C. Rain 34 - Hillcrest-Evergreen 20

Elberta 14 - Orange Beach 34

Leflore 20 - Robertsdale 31

Vigor 21 - Blount 6

BYE: Williamson, Faith Academy

Region 1 Games This Week

UMS-WRIGHT at LEFLORE

Foley at B. C. RAIN

Orange Beach at CITRONELLE

VIGOR at Tuscaloosa County

Wayne County (MS) at WILLIAMSON

FAITH ACADEMY at Fairhope

Robertsdale at ELBERTA

St. Paul's Game Recap

    Coach Sam Williams likes the word "attack". UMS-Wright's new look offense did just that on Friday night. There were moments throughout the game, but it was most evident in an explosive 3rd quarter that saw back to back scoring drives with explosive plays in both the run and passing games.  The Bulldogs rattled off 13 plays that gained 10 yards or more.  3 of those were for gains of 20 or more.  Opportunities were there for more, and the near misses will be big plays in coming weeks.  Max Fowler had a strong game, completing 23 passes to 6 different receivers for just shy of 200 yards.  Fowler had one touchdown pass and no interceptions.  Richard Scott was productive all night, finishing with 139 all purpose yards and a touchdown. The Bulldog defense forced 5 "three and outs", 4 of them in the second half.  Combine that with 11 tackles for loss and an interception, and it was a productive night.  

    While the game ended in an overtime loss, the 2025 Bulldogs won't feel that sting of defeat very often this year.  It was a fun game to watch, and as the chemistry and consistency improves over these next few weeks the Bulldogs will be in the mix for the Region 1 title.

1st Quarter

St. Paul's received the opening kickoff, picking up a first down before punting it away.  UMS-Wright picked up 2 first downs on 4 plays, but Max Fowler's fumble on 4th and 4 gave the ball back to St. Paul's at their own 46 yard line. The Saints connected on a 29 yard screen pass for the first big play of the game.  Another 15 yard screen pass set the Saints up at the 10 yard line, and they would score 3 plays later on an Anthony Frasier touchdown run.  

UMS-Wright would go 3 and out on their next drive, and the Saints would move across mid-field with a 7-0 lead.  Two penalties against St. Paul's set up a 2nd and 20, and Logan Loftin intercepted Hayden Fincher's pass, returning it to the Saint's 1-yard line on the final play of the 1st quarter.

End 1^st Quarter

UMS-W 0

St. Paul's 7

 

2^nd Quarter

Max Fowler punched it in from 1-yard out on the quarter's opening play, and the Bulldogs tied the game at 7-7.  St. Paul's started deep on their own side. On a 3rd and 8 play, Perry Hand hurried the QB and his pass sailed over a receiver tightly covered by David Lott.  The Bulldogs moved the ball out to the 43 yard line, but couldn't convert a 3rd and 10 and punted again.  St. Paul's scored 6 plays later. A 32 yard run from Frasier combined with a 27 yard completion to Tank Jones preceded a direct snap 5-yard touchdown run from Jones to put the Saints up 14-7.  

Fowler picked up 2 first downs, one on a completion to Richard Scott and another using his legs on a 13-yard zone read.  Thomas Portacci's fumble after a reception on 2nd and 2 gave the ball back to St. Paul's at midfield.  St. Paul's moved the ball inside the 20, but Hayes Howard sacked a scrambling Fincher to end the first half 

Halftime

UMS-W 7

St. Paul's 14

3^rd Quarter

The Bulldogs took the second half kickoff and quickly went 3 and out.  The defense held the Saints to 1 yard on 3 plays forcing another 3 and out.  That's when the Bulldog offense started clicking.  A 12 play, 84 yard drive would tie the game at 14-14.  Fowler was 4-4 on the drive connecting with T Davison over the middle for a 27 yard gain and Scott on a 16-yard screen pass.  Perry Hand took it in from 6 yards out for the score.

The UMS-Wright defense stood firm again, forcing another 3 and out to give the Bulldogs the ball back at the Saint's 39.  9 plays later, the Bulldogs were back in the end zone grabbing their first lead of the game 21-14.  Fowler stayed hot, hitting John Bloch for 10 yards, Portacci for 11 yards, and Bloch again for 7 yards.  Richard Scott finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run.

Both teams were 3 and out as the 3rd quarter came to a close. 

End 3rd Quarter 

UMS-W 21

St. Paul's 14

4th Quarter

The Saints started the 4th quarter with a 6 play - 68 yard drive ending with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Fincher to Parker Davis.  With the game tied 21-21, the Bulldogs started at their own 20.  Scott ripped off a 20 yard run, and Fowler hit Portacci for a 25 yard pickup on 3rd and 9.  UMS-Wright couldn't get another first down, and punted the Saints deep into their own field.  Neither team could flip the field and exchanged punts after short possessions.  Richard Scott was ruled to be tackled in bounds on a play late in the quarter, and the two teams headed to overtime for the 2nd year in a row.

End of 4th Quarter

UMS-W 21

St. Paul's 21

OVERTIME

The Bulldogs started on offense in overtime, and scored on their first play.  Fowler's 10 yard completion to Caplyn Reed gave UMS-Wright a 28-21 lead.  St. Paul's put Tank Jones at wildcat and ran 3 direct snap run plays to answer with a touchdown, and converted a 2-pt conversion in like fashion to win the game.

FINAL

UMS-Wright 28
St. Paul's 29

Team Totals
 

Total Yards

UMS-W 334

St. Paul's 307

Rushing Yards

UMS-W 137

St. Paul's 143

Passing Yards

UMS-W 197

St. Paul's 164

Turnovers

UMS-W 2

St. Paul's 1

Stat Leaders

Rushing

Richard Scott: 14 Carries - 79 yds - TD

Max Fowler: 6 Carries - 36 yds - TD

Perry Hand: 5 Carries - 15 yds - TD

Passing

Max Fowler: 23 for 33 - 197 yds - TD

Receiving

Richard Scott: 10 receptions - 60 yds

Thomas Portacci: 6 receptions - 44 yds

John Bloch: 3 receptions - 37 yds 

T Davison: 2 reception - 36 yds

Caplyn Reed: 1 reception - 10 yds - TD

Ty Mabrey: 1 reception - 10 yds

Defense

Perry Hand: 4 tackles - TFL

Charlie McConnell: 4 tackles - 2 TFL

Caplyn Reed: 4 tackles

David Lott: 3 tackles

Logan Loftin: 1 tackle - INT

Other TFLs: Andrew Cook (2), Anderson Bassett (2), Colby Weaver, Hayes Howard, John-Ellis Pritchard

Special Teams

Kingston Phan: 4 for 4 PAT

Next Up: UMS-Wright opens Region 1 play at Leflore this Friday (8/29)