By Gary Thomas 

Brantley School’s No. 5 ranked Bulldogs traveled eight miles up US Highway 331 to take on County rival Luverne Tigers at Glenn Daniel Stadium last Friday, Aug. 30 and came away with an impressive win on the road. 

Returning 11 starters on defense and nine on offense, the Bulldogs secured five offensive touchdowns and one defensive totalling 40 points. Jayden Parks racked up 339 yards from his quarterback, going 12 for 18 passing for 198 yards and rushed for 141 yards on each tote. 

Brantley scored their first points of the game as they marched 69 yards on six plays when Parks hooked up wideout Kelvin Freeman from 15 yards out for the score. The point after touchdown was good, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead at the 10:34 mark of the first quarter.

The Tigers answered right back as they drove 80 yards in 12 plays taking seven minutes off the time clock as sophomore quarterback Kane Smith plunged into the Bulldog endzone. From one yard out, Luverne converted the two points on a run by Alijah Hurst as the Tigers went up 8-7.

Brantley wasted little time in returning as they covered 51 yards with quarterback Parks scoring from 18 yards out. The Bulldog extra point attempt sailed wide right keeping the Bulldog lead at five with 3:51 left in the half.

As time wound down, the Tigers running attack kicked in as they grounded out a 65 yard scoring drive. Elliot Harris carried the ball the final 14 yards for the Tiger score. The Tigers converted the point after touchdown, giving them a three-point edge.

With 29 seconds left, Parks took matters into his own hands as he raised 76 yards for Brantley. On the last play of the half, another touchdown and two point conversion moved the Bulldogs up 21-16.

After a turnover before the half, the Bulldogs bit the Tiger defense after Parks hit Carter on a 12 yard pass. After the missed extra point, the Bulldogs took a 27-16 lead to the locker room.

In the third quarter, Brantley increased its lead on a 70 yard scoring drive after Parks hit Cooper Layton on a 29-yard pass, making the score 34-16 after the extra point. With 2:36 in the quarter, the Bulldogs defense got in the scoring action when linebacker Layton picked off a Tiger pass for a 55 yard score.

Trailing 40-16, the Tiger offensive unit closed out the game scoring the final points. Smith crossed the Bulldogs goal line with 36 seconds to go in the game.

The final score stood Brantley Bulldogs, 40, Luverne Tigers 24.

This is homecoming week for the Bulldogs as they host the Pleasant Home Eagles at David Lowry Field. The Tigers will take a much needed week off this Friday night.