Jerry Hinnen / Sports editor

Bring on the Patriots.

Sweet Water rolled to another easy victory Thursday before next week’s showdown with Linden, exploding for 63 first-half points on their way to a decisive win over the Sunshine Tigers.

All-State sophomore Anthony Landrum got things started for the Bulldogs, rumbling for a 60-yard touchdown before a minute had elapsed in the opening quarter. Landrum’s score was followed by a 56-yard touchdown by Travion Lockett, a 16-yard touchdown by Dominic Holt, and a 7-yard touchdown by Lockett–all on consecutive possessions–to put Sweet Water up 28-0 with more than four minutes remaining in the quarter.

Sunshine did their best to respond, moving the ball near midfield on consecutive possessions thanks to hard running by fullback Robert Lyons. But the Bulldog defense held firm and forced Sunshine to punt. However, excellent punts by Sunshine’s freshman quarterback Marcus Lee and alert special teams coverage by the Tigers allowed Sunshine to pin the Bulldogs inside their own 10-yard line each time.

But the Bulldogs proved their capabilities of scoring from anywhere on the field. First quarterback Deon Williams hit Blake Luker in stride down the middle of the field for a 91-yard scoring toss. On the Bulldogs’ next possession, Lockett took the ball at his own 1 and dashed around right end, outrunning the Tigers on his way for a 99-yard touchdown. Lockett’s run closed the quarter with the Bulldogs up 42-0.

The Bulldogs put three more scores on the board, including a 21-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Antonio Landrum, to take a 63-0 lead into halftime. The final score of the game was unavailable as of press time.

Next week Sweet Water will play host to fellow 1A Region 4 heavyweight Linden, 40-6 winners over Sunshine last week. Sunshine will be glad to welcome fellow Sweet Water victim Akron next Thursday in Newbern.