Sweet Water might have moved up to Class 2A this year, but Friday night’s game with former 1A foe Maplesville certainly felt like old times.

The two powerhouses went down to the wire again, with Sweet Water edging Maplesville 17-14 with a late field goal and game-ending interception.

Sweet Water jumped out to an early lead behind two Jakoby Alridge rushing touchdowns, a 4-yard scamper in the first quarter and then a 27-yard run with about six minutes before the break.

Maplesville responded with two touchdowns, coming off two long pass plays to tie things up 14-14.

Things stayed that way until late in the fourth quarter when Taylor Wilson’s 27-yard field goal gave the home team the 17-14 advantage.

Maplesville wasn’t done though and fought back to get down inside the red zone, converting a fourth and eight at one point to keep the drive alive. An interception by Daniel Sewell on the 3-yard-line finally secured the victory for Sweet Water.

“A game like this will wear you out,” said Sweet Water coach Stacy Luker. “(But) this was fun — it really was. It doesn’t do anything but make both teams better.”

Luker called the game a “character builder” and made a prediction about both team’s future.

“I think you’ll see both teams making some noise toward the end of the season,” he said.

The Bulldogs out gained the Red Devils, 276 yards to 241.

All of Sweet Water’s yards came on the ground, while Maplesville lit it up through the air.

The Red Devils ended up with 192 yards passing and 49 yards rushing.

Deion Waters led  all rushers with 106 yards on 17 carries. Alridge added 73 yards and the two TDs.

D.J. Hayes also added an interception, which with Sewell’s gave Sweet Water two picks for the game.

The Bulldogs (4-1, 3-0) get back into regional play next week with a trip to Flomaton.