Andalusia falls in home matchup with Pace, Florida, 42-13

Pace, Florida controlled the tempo early and often and claimed the football battle of the border for a 42-13 road win at Andalusia Friday night.

The Patriots improved to 3-1 on the year with the win, while the Bulldogs fell to 2-3 for the season.

“We talked all week about what we could learn from this game. There were some things on both sides of the ball in the second half we can look at on film. Pace has a great football team and is obviously a much bigger school, but we have to play,” Head Coach Trent Taylor said.

Pace opened the game at its own 33-yard line and converted a second-and-8 with a 17-yard pass from Ben Tyner to Joeseph Skipworth. Zade Newton then tackled Tyner on third-and-13 and helped the defense force a punt. Andalusia went three and out and also had to punt.

Makael Williams started the next visiting possession with a 41-yard run to the opposing 35-yard line. The Bulldogs stood tall on defense and set up a third-and-9, but Tyner connected with Brooks Washington for a 12-yard pass and a first down. Three plays later, Tyner kept the drive alive with a 5-yard run aided by a facemask penalty. Following a 7-yard run from 20, Tyner crossed the goal line from a yard out. Caleb Nelson added the PAT as the Patriots took a 7-0 lead with 3:21 to go in the opening quarter.

The home offense continued to struggle and could not pick up a first down. Tyner found Alijah Lavender open in the middle of the field for a 58-yard touchdown as Nelson’s PAT doubled the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first.

Noah Curry gave Andalusia its initial first down of the game with a 6-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Two plays later, Jordyn Skanes found a hole down the opposing sideline and earned a 62-yard carry to the visiting 2-yard line. Pace was then flagged for roughing the passer that resulted in an automatic first down. That penalty set up a 4-yard touchdown pass from Curry to Calvin Daniel. Cobb Stewart made the PAT and cut the deficit to 14-7 with 8:27 remaining until halftime.

Williams earned back-to-back first down carries of 13 and 11 yards on the ensuing drive. Tyner then found Skipworth open for 12 yards to the home 49. Williams picked up a first down with a 19-yard run before Tyner converted a third-and-1 with an 8-yard carry. Williams capped the nine-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good for a 21-7 lead at the 5:18 point.

Cadariyus Love had a 3-yard run on second down for the Bulldogs before a fumble on the next play. Tagg Strickenberger began the next possession with a 16-yard run as Tyner scored two plays later from five yards out. Nelson’s PAT put the Patriots ahead 28-7 with 2:20 until the break. Skanes returned the kickoff to the 31-yard line as M.J. Berry had three carries before a punt.

Andalusia went three-and-out on its opening possession of the second half. Pace started its initial drive in the third quarter at midfield and used seven plays to add to the lead. Tyner converted a second-and-4 with a 27-yard pass to Skipworth and set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Williams. The PAT was true and took the score to 35-7 at the 6:40 mark.

Curry called his own number with an 11-yard scamper for a first down and followed that with a 9-yard pickup. The defense tightened up and forced another punt. The Patriots extended the lead to 42-7 after a 39-yard touchdown run from Williams with 3:14 left in the third quarter.

The two teams traded punts as the third quarter came to an end. Berry closed the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:18 left in the game. The PAT was blocked and left the final tally of 42-13.

Andalusia will travel to Beauregard (4-1) for a non-region game on Friday, Sept. 27.

“We get back into our classification next week against a very good football team and will see what happens. We have to get some people who are beat up well and go from there,” Taylor said.