Things didn't look so good for Brantley at halftime of last Friday night's contest against A.L. Johnson.

The third-ranked Bulldogs (11-0) only led the Eagles 9-8 at intermission, but their defense steped it up holding the visitors scoreless as the home team claimed an 22-8 victory.

"I thought we played hard, but we were a little flat," Brantley Head Coach David Lowery said. "It was a tough turn around coming off a big game with Luverne and going right into the playoffs. Emotionally, we were probably a little drained and a little tired. I thought our effort was there, but we made a lot of mistakes."

Brantley kicked a field goal to jump to an early 3-0 lead, but A.L. Johnson answered back with a 75-yard touchdown run to go up 8-3. Senior running back Devaris Skanes scored from 10 yards out in the second quarter to give the host a 9-8 lead at the half

The tables turned for the Bulldogs in the second half.

"Our defense played a little better in the second half and we eventually got things going a little bit on offense," Lowery said.

The Bulldogs capitalized on a turnover deep in Eagle territory in the the third quarter to pad their lead. Skanes later scored on another run to close out the game.

Skanes finished the night with 115 yards rushing and two touchdown.

The Bulldogs host Reetown in the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Class 1A state playoffs tomorrow night.

Kickoff is scheldued for 7 p.m.