Staff Reports

RANBURNE – Brady Ruark completed 14-of-25 pass attempts for 203 yards and a touchdown. He also had a touchdown on the ground, but it wasn’t enough for the Spring Garden Panthers in their football regular season finale at Ranburne on Friday. The Bulldogs came away with a 29-21 victory.

Clayton Sadler topped the Panther pass catchers with five receptions for 95 yards. He also had 13 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Ben Baker hauled in four catches for 41 yards and a score. He also led Spring Garden’s defense with 14 tackles.

Chandler Rogers tallied 12 tackles, including two for loss. Bryant Williams registered 10 tackles, including one for a safety in the first quarter for Spring Garden’s first points of the game. Brody Lemons made six stops with a sack, and Cam Cade had an interception.

Spring Garden (6-4) led 2-0 at the 6:53 mark of the first quarter on Williams’ safety, but then the Bulldogs (4-6) scored a pair of touchdowns to take a 14-2 lead.

Spring Garden’s first touchdown came on Ruark’s 1-yard run just before the end of the first quarter. The extra point made it a 14-9 game.

Ranburne scored another touchdown in the second quarter to take a 21-9 advantage at halftime.

Sadler brought the Panthers to within six at 21-15 on his 1-yard run late in the third quarter, but Ranburne tacked on another touchdown with 2:40 remaining in the game. Following a successful 2-point conversion, the Bulldogs held a 29-15 lead.

Ruark connected with Baker on a 17-yard score with 5.4 seconds left for the final.

Spring Garden travels to Hackleburg in the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs next Friday.