Cecilia opens 5-4A play with win over Abbeville

Abbeville – The Cecilia Bulldogs put up 16 second quarter points on their way to a 37-28 shoot out victory over Abbeville last Friday to open their District 5-4A campaign in impressive fashion.
Senior quarterback Corey Williams sparked the Bulldog offense, rushing for 45 yards and completing 13-of-20 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
Cecilia got on the board early after sophomore defensive back Wallace Davis picked up a Wildcat fumble and ran it back 50 yards deep into Abbeville territory. Two plays later Williams drilled a 10-yard pass to Noah Livings for the game’s first TD. Tanner Olivier booted the first of his four PATs to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.
But Abbeville answered with a 14-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a short Demarcus Collins-to-Allen Arclies pass for the TD. The PAT kick was blocked and Cecilia led by one.
Cecilia scored again early in the second period on a 42-yard field goal by Olivier that was set up by a 43-yard run by Jason Stelly.
Cecilia’s 10-6 lead held up until the frantic final two minutes of the half.
Abbeville went up 14-10 at the two-minute mark on a 12-yard run by Jalan Montgomery and successful 2-point conversion.
The Wildcats tried an onside kick but the Bulldogs recovered the ball at the Abbeville 48 and struck quickly to regain the lead. Livings caught his second TD pass, this one from 31 yards out. Olivier’s PAT kick put Cecilia up 17-14 with just 38 seconds remaining.
But the ’Dogs weren’t done yet.
Cecilia forced an Abbeville punt that was partially blocked, giving the Bulldogs the ball inside the Wildcat 40. On the final play of the half Williams connected with Daniel Angelle for a 39-yard TD pass. And while the 2-point conversion attempt failed, Cecilia enjoyed a 23-14 halftime advantage.
Cecilia had first possession of the second half and the Abbeville kickoff went out of bounds near midfield. Seven plays later the ’Dogs struck again when Devin Briscoe went in from 10 yards out and Cecilia had better breathing room with a 30-14 lead.
But the Wildcats wouldn’t roll over and closed the margin to 30-20 late in the period when Channing Spears capped a 60-yard drive with a 10-yard TD run.
Then midway through the final stanza Cecilia fans grew nervous when the Wildcats made it 30-28 on a 6-yard Spears TD followed by a successful conversion run.
But the Bulldogs were able to slam the door shut minutes later, answering with a 75-yard, 7-play drive that ended with Briscoe’s second TD. Williams sparked the possession with a 31-yard QB keeper.
Briscoe carried the load in the running game, accounting for 42 yards and the two touchdowns on 10 totes.
Williams spread the ball around to four receivers, with Angelle (3 catches for 78 yards and a TD), Livings (5-for-75 and two TDs) and Kaleb Carder (4-for-52) leading the way.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 1-0) host Westgate (3-3) for homecoming this Friday.