SWEET WATER – Sweet Water rebounded after last week’s loss to Leroy in resounding fashion to open the 1A state playoffs.

The Bulldogs opened the defense of their 2007 championship title with a resounding win over Geneva County, 49-0, Friday night in Sweet Water.

Sweet Water snapped their 36-game winning streak last week in their loss, brining their season record to 9-1 going into Friday’s match up. The Bulldogs remained on top of 1A, Region 1 with a perfect 8-0-region record.

Mistakes early in the game gave a rocky picture of the Bulldogs for their opening drive. On the second play Johnny Lockett fumbled the ball, turning it over to Geneva on Sweet Water’s 20-yard-line.

“We got off to a slow start, but we were able to get everything back on track pretty quick,” said head coach Stacy Luker.

With a little more than two minutes left in the first quarter, Lockett redeemed himself with a 9-yard run to put the first score on the board. Justin Waldrep added the PAT, giving Sweet Water a 7-0 lead.

Geneva took over but was forced to punt after three quick plays. The kick was high and planted the ball on their own 27.

Sweet Water took full advantage of the opportunity. Chris Landrum, pushing through the center in three plays to bring the Bulldogs to the 2 yard line, carried the ball over the line to kick off the second quarter.

Waldrep added the extra point for a 14-0 advantage.

After six plays that held Geneva in the vicinity of their own 40-yard-line, Sweet Water was able to move the ball from their own 30-yard-line to the 1-yard-line.

Landrum again was called to push the ball through for six points with only 4:05 left in the half.

A Waldrep kick put Sweet Water up 21-0.

Two minutes later, the Bulldogs again put another 7 on the scoreboard thanks to a Geneva interception by Butch Williams.

Sweet Water took over from their own 40 and drove to Geneva’s 46-yard-line in two plays. Lockett then took a 46-yard dash right up the middle to find pay dirt.

Waldrep’s PAT gave Sweet Water a 28-0 lead.

With only a little more than a minute to play in the half, Geneva fumbled that placed the ball on their own 14. The next play was a pass from Damaraquis Williams in the end zone for another TD. Waldrep closed the first-half scoring with his PAT to give Sweet Water a 35-0 half-time advantage.

The second half opened in similar fashion. Lockett had a 80-plus yard kick-off return into the end zone for a quick score. Waldrep added the PAT.

The final score of the game came again from Sweet Water. With 7:24 to play in the fourth quarter, Landrum pushed through the middle for a 3-yard trot for six. Waldrep put the extra point on the scoreboard capping the 49-0 win for Sweet Water.

Sweet Water advances to round two of the AISA playoffs at home against McIntosh nest Friday.