Nationally Ranked Red Devils Survive Thrilling Shootout with Dothan Wolves, 42-35

DOTHAN, Ala. – In a dramatic Friday night showdown, the nationally-ranked Central Red Devils narrowly escaped with a 42-35 victory over the Dothan Wolves, whose gritty performance came up just short in the final moments.

Central, currently ranked No. 14 in the SBLive National Top 25, and No. 1 in the state for 7 A teams, managed to hold off a determined Dothan squad, preserving their unbeaten streak by stopping the Wolves just one yard shy of a potential game-tying touchdown in the dying seconds.

The Red Devils (4-0) set the tone early, opting to defer after winning the coin toss.

Following a stalled opening drive, Central quickly capitalized on a special teams mistake when Dothan fumbled on the ensuing punt return. Seizing the opportunity, senior quarterback Andrew Alford connected with wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw for a 10-yard touchdown pass, igniting Central’s offense and providing an early 7-0 lead.

Dothan (2-2) appeared ready to respond, taking advantage of excellent field position following a strong kickoff return. However, the Wolves’ momentum was stifled by another costly turnover—a fumble deep in Central territory.

The Red Devils, not wasting any chances, struck again as Alford hit Brandon Brown for a stunning 50-yard completion, followed shortly by a second 10-yard touchdown pass to Upshaw, stretching Central’s lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

Despite the early deficit, Dothan fought back with resilience. With just over four minutes left in the opening quarter, Wolves quarterback Sam Broadway powered his way into the end zone on a 13-yard rush, trimming the Red Devils’ lead to 14-7.

The second quarter saw both teams trading blows, with Dothan’s ground game proving particularly formidable. Broadway continued to lead his offense, scoring on a 12-yard run that leveled the score at 14-14.

Central responded by turning again to their playmaking wideout, Upshaw, who hauled in a 74-yard touchdown pass from Alford. A missed extra point left Central clinging to a 20-14 advantage heading into halftime, after Dothan missed a crucial 28-yard field goal attempt.

In the third quarter, Dothan shifted to a ball-control offense, grinding down the clock with their run-heavy attack. The strategy paid off when Broadway found the end zone from three yards out, giving the Wolves their first lead of the game, 21-20.

But Central wasn’t fazed. Alford, showing poise under pressure, continued to lean on Upshaw, who caught a 58-yard touchdown pass that put the Red Devils back in front. A successful two-point conversion to Tristan Williams extended the lead to 28-21.

Dothan’s ground attack struck again, as Aubrail Alexander sprinted 40 yards for a touchdown, though a missed extra point left the Wolves trailing by a single point, 28-27.

As the third quarter wound down, Williams electrified the Central sideline with a bruising 66-yard touchdown run, restoring a more comfortable 34-27 lead.

Undeterred, the Wolves clawed their way back once more. Jaden Barnes capped off a hard-fought drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, and Dothan successfully converted a two-point attempt to tie the game at 35-35 with less than nine minutes remaining.

The final moments of the game were filled with high drama. A Central fumble on the next possession seemed to give Dothan a golden opportunity, but the Wolves were unable to capitalize.

Central’s championship pedigree emerged, as Williams broke free for a decisive 52-yard touchdown run, putting the Red Devils ahead 42-35.

With time running out, Dothan mounted one last desperate drive, relying on their dominant running game. They marched down to Central’s 39-yard line, where Broadway connected with an open receiver. But the Wolves came up just short, with the receiver being stopped at the 1-yard line as the clock expired.

Central, now 2-0 both at home and on the road, remains undefeated heading into their next contest against Enterprise (3-1) on September 20 at 7 p.m. Enterprise will be eager to rebound from a 53-22 loss to Auburn and surely will present another tough challenge for the Red Devils.