By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

With the regular season coming to a close and seniors being recognized in front of the home crowd, there was no better way for the Billingsley to close out the regular season than with a 44-34 win Thursday over Montevallo.

Choosing to receive the game’s opening kickoff, the offense for the Class 4A Bulldogs (8-2 overall, 5-1 region) started its first possession from its own 37-yard line.

After a 23-yard completion from quarterback Zachary Oden to Dawan Bryant, the Bulldogs put the ball on the turf on their next play, and with Jeffery Lee covering the ball for the Bears, Billingsley (5-5, 3-2) set up first-and-10 from its own 43.

A Derrick Dunnigan 42-yard run moved the ball down inside the 10-yard line, where James Woods connected with Dunnigan for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put the Bears up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

Montevallo went to work on the ground with their next possession, driving 65 yards while capping the drive with a Undraez Lily 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-all with 4:30 left in the first quarter.

A three-and-out by the Bears set up the Bulldogs with first-and-10 at the Billingsley 40.

Runs of 23 and 24 yards advanced the Montevallo offense down inside the red zone, where a 17-yard pass from Oden to Bryant gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.

The teams exchanged possessions before the Bears took over at their own 40 with 8:40 left in the first half.

A 29-yard pass from James Woods to Isaac Green moved the ball down to the Bulldogs’ 31, and runs by Dunnigan moved the Billingsley offense down to the Bulldogs’ 13.

The Billingsley drive stalled at the 6, but a 13-yard field goal by Rios Cebellos cut the Bulldogs’ lead to four, 14-10, with 5:01 to play in the first half.

The teams once again exchanged three-and-outs, but a shanked Bears punt set up Montevallo with a first-and-10 at the Billingsley 23.

Four plays later, and a 5-yard pass from Oden gave Montevallo a 21-10 halftime lead.

Billingsley answered with a score of its own to start the second half with a 65-yard drive that was capped off on a 25-yard pass from Wood to Green.

With 5:28 left in the third, the Bulldogs led 21-17.

Both teams’ next possession resulted in no change in the score, but a 55-yard drive by the Bulldogs ended with a 3-yard Caleb Cottingham touchdown run that extended the Montevallo lead to 28-17 with 11:17 to play.

The lead wouldn’t last long as the Billingsley offense answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive and a Dunnigan 16-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 28-23.

Woods would find Dunnigan for the two-point conversion, and with 7:54 to play, the Bears trailed by three, 28-25.

Setting up first-and-10 at their own 47, the Bulldogs’ offense went to work and clicked off three big plays on a pass from Oden to Edwards and two long runs by Cottingham.

A personal foul against the Bears placed the ball on the one, where Kerry Mack went in for the score to put the Bulldogs out in front 34-25.

The shootout continued with the ensuing possession as the Bears offense again answered the call with a touchdown of their own as Dunnigan again found pay dirt, this time on a 31-yard touchdown carry to pull the Bears to within three, 34-31.

The Bulldogs’ offense started their next drive from their own 15-yard line, and while facing a third-and-12 from its own 13, a pass attempt by Oden fell into the hands of Bears defender Javon Brown, who returned the interception down to the Bulldogs’ 4.

One play later, and Dunnigan was in the end zone once again to give Billingsley the lead, 38-34, with just 2:11 to play.

A quick first down by the Bulldogs and a nine-yard run by Cottingham moved Montevello out to their own 34, where they would face a second-and-one.

With Oden looking to complete a pass across the middle for the first down, Dunnigan stepped in to pick off the pass attempt and turn the ball back over to the Bear offense.

With 1:18 to play, Billingsley took over at the Bulldog 30-yard line.

Three plays and three rushing attempts by Dunnigan found the Bears in the end zone once again and sealed the fate of the Bulldogs, as Billingsley picked up the win.

“Our kids came out and played hard, and we got a couple of turnovers that gave us a couple of good breaks and opportunities that we were able to capitalize on,” Bears coach Tyson McLean said. “Montevallo has a heck of a football team. Things fell our way, and we were lucky enough to get a win. My hats off to Coach (Andrew) Zow. Their team played hard.”

Dunnigan led the Bears with 173 yards rushing on 28 carries with four touchdowns and added another touchdown receiving.

Oden completed 18 passes on 24 attempts for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Lilly lead the ground game with 94 yards on 10 carries.

The Bears will start their playoff run next Friday night at Millry.