By Marla Jones, Sports Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
FYFFE, Ala. — The Fyffe Red Devils shutout the Sheffield Bulldogs in the first round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A State Playoffs, 48-0. This is the team's eighth shutout of the season and their 37th consecutive win at home.
The Sheffield Bulldogs started the game on a bad note when the quarterback threw the ball, after a bad snap, directly to Fyffe’s Hunter Gillilan. With 9:14 remaining in the first quarter, the Red Devils capitalized on the Sheffield mistake, scoring with a Zach Pyron touchdown. After a kick by Brody Dalton, the Red Devils took the 7-0 lead. Fyffe added more points on the board, after a 5-play drive ended with a touchdown by Ike Rowell. Dalton added the extra point to go up 14-0 with 5:22 remaining in the opening quarter. With 2:11 remaining in the first, Pyron scored on a quarterback keeper. The kick by Dalton put the Red Devils in the driver's seat, 21-0.
With 9:54 remaining in the first half, Kyle Dukes scored for Fyffe on 3-yard stampede into the endzone. The extra point attempt by Dalton was good. After an interception by Pryon, the Red Devils scored on a 7-play drive. Rowell brought it in from the 1-yard line with 3:29 to go in the second quarter. The kick by Dalton gave the Red Devils the 35-0 advantage going into the half.
After a second half kickoff return by Rowell to Sheffield’s 38, Fyffe marched down the field for six-plays before scoring on a 3-yard run by Malichi Mize with 7:59 remaining in the third. The kick by Dalton, put Fyffe up 42-0. After a Tyler Machen interception, the Red Devils meticulously moved down the field 74-yards before scoring on a 18-yard touchdown run by Brodie Hicks, with :11 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point attempt by Yahir Balcazar failed, making the final score of the night 46-0.
Fyffe (11-0) will host the Ranburne Bulldogs (10-1) for the second round of the AHSAA State Football Playoffs.