ABERDEEN — Turnovers and the Aberdeen Bulldogs’ late surge proved to be too much for Water Valley on Friday night as the Blue Devils fell on the road 35-14.After trading possessions early, the Blue Devils cashed in on Aberdeen’s lone turnover of the game. After J.D. Fondon recovered a Victor Hodges fumble deep in Aberdeen territory, quarterback E.J. Bounds would eventually find the end zone on a fourth-and-goal QB-keeper from the 1-yard line to give Water Valley an early 7-0 lead.
That was the last time Water Valley would find the end zone until the fourth quarter.
With 6:38 remaining in the first half Aberdeen’s special teams came up big when Erick Cunningham blocked a punt and recovered it in Water Valley’s end zone. A missed extra point attempt would leave AHS behind 7-6.
Following a short Water Valley possession, Aberdeen would take the lead for good. This time, Aberdeen drove 72 yards down the field with Hodges racking up 38 yards rushing — including the 5-yard TD run the cap the nine-play drive. Quarterback Desmond Jones then found Channing Ward open in the flat to convert Aberdeen’s 2-point attempt to put the Bulldogs ahead 14-7.
TOLLISON TAKEN TO HOSPITAL: Late in the game Water Valley fans got a scare when following a third-down stop senior Kyle Tollison was face down on the turf. After being attended to by paramedics, Tollison was placed onto a stretcher and taken in an ambulance to the Aberdeen. Tollison gave the crowd a thumbs up while being placed into the ambulance and following the game WVHS coach Brad Embry said Tollison being taken to the hospital was more of a precautionary thing than anything else.
UPDATE: Saturday afternoon Embry confirmed that Tollison will be alright and that “everything came back clear” from tests done at the hospital.
Next up for Water Valley is a Class 3A meeting with South Pontotoc on Friday. (October 9, 2010)
