HEADING DOWNFIELD – Bulldog running back Joe Randall breaks free during one of his 13 runs in Friday night’s victory over Millsap. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

Alvord sophomore running back Joe Randall didn’t get medically cleared to play until three hours before kickoff Friday.

The Millsap Bulldogs wish his doctor would have kept him out longer.

In his first live action of the fall, Randall ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns in Alvord’s 62-7 win over Millsap.

“It was right before the game,” Randall said about the clearance to play. “The trainer, my mom and I sat down and talked.

“I didn’t expect this. My line did great. I just had to run.”

Randall is coming back from a wrist fracture.

He rushed for 122 yards and three scores in the first half and carried the ball on Alvord’s first four plays.

His 10-yard run in the final minute of the half made it 35-7. That followed touchdown totes of 33 and 17 yards.

His night ended with a 56-yard sprint to the end zone two plays into the second half.

“As his coach, I see him in practice and it doesn’t surprise me,” said Alvord coach Curtis Enis. “It’s Joe just being Joe. He has exceptional vision and is able to make people miss.”

Randall was just part of the Alvord running game. Alvord finished with 317 yards rushing.

Brandon Aeling ran for 124 yards and touchdowns of six and 14 yards. Fullback Troy Morales added 61 yards.

“We have a powerful backfield,” Randall said.

In his first start, Jordan Locklear added 76 yards through the air and the game’s opening score on an 18-yard connection with Morales. He finished 4-for-5. The quarterback also ran for the Bulldogs’ final score with 11:48 remaining in the game.

“I was real impressed with Jordan,” Enis said. “He struggled in the scrimmages. Tonight he was very sharp throwing the ball and was very good getting us to the line and running the offense.”

As dominant as the offense was, Alvord’s defense was equally as impressive.

The Alvord defense that gave up 350 yards per game last season limited Millsap to 75 yards and minus 48 rushing. Alvord also forced a pair of turnovers – an interception by Brett Martin and a fumble recovery by Keelan Nivens.

“Coach [Pete] Hart, Coach [Chris] Staley and Coach [Charlie] Mann have brought a new attitude to the defense,” Enis said. “The kids played with a low pad level and a high motor.

“I’m very pleased with what Coach Hart has been able to do with the defense.”

Alvord made 14 stops for losses.

Three long passes from Millsap quarterback Bradley Bottoms to Michael Rogers set up the lone score against Alvord. The 6-4 Rogers made a leaping catch over Alvord defender Jose Luna for a 23-yard touchdown.

Rogers finished with 108 yards on six catches.

TAKING A TUMBLE – Alvord running back Brandon Aeling gets tripped up by a Millsap defender as he flies into the end zone head over heals. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

ALVORD 62, MILLSAP 7

Millsap … 0 … 7 … 0 … 0 … – 7
Alvord … 13 … 22 … 20 … 7 … – 62

FIRST QUARTER

Alvord – 7:43; Troy Morales 18 pass from Jordan Locklear; Jose Luna kick
Alvord – 3:10; Brandon Aeling 6 run; kick failed

SECOND QUARTER

Alvord – 11:50; Joe Randall 33 run; Luna kick
Alvord – 5:57; Randall 17 run; Casen Baker pass from Luna
Millsap – 2:46; Michael Rogers 23 pass from Bradley Bottoms; Mitchell Coker kick
Alvord – 0:50; Randall 10 run; Luna kick

THIRD QUARTER

Alvord – 11:28; Randall 56 run; Luna kick
Alvord – 9:54; Aeling 14 run; kick failed
Alvord – 5:53; Morales 13 run; Jonathan Musgrave kick

FOURTH QUARTER

Alvord – 11:48; Locklear 3 run; Musgrave kick

MILLSAP … ALVORD

First downs … 8 … 20
Rushes-yards … 22-(-48) … 40-317
Passing yards … 133 … 76
Total yards … 75 … 393
Comp-Att-Int … 9-19-1 … 4-5-0
Punts-Average … 7-31.7 … 2-31.5
Fumbles-lost … 2-1 … 1-0
Penalties-yards … 8-55 … 12-125

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Millsap, Bradley Bottoms 10-(minus 39), Clayton Watson 7-(minus 12), Dylan Burton 4-13, Michael Rogers 1-(minus 10). Alvord, Joe Randall 13-200, Casen Baker 1-6, Brandon Aeling 8-124, Jordan Locklear 4-7, Troy Morales 9-61, Keelan Nivens 5-9.
Passing: Millsap, Bottoms 8-18-1-123, Rogers 1-6-0-10. Alvord, Locklear 4-5-0-76.
Receiving: Millsap, Rogers 6-108, Clayton Watson 1-(minus 2), Daulton Thomas 2-7, Burton 1-10. Alvord, Morales 1-18, Baker 3-58.

HANDFUL – Bulldog defender Jacob Klein grabs Millsap quarterback for a loss during Friday night’s game. Alvord went on to trounce Millsap by 55 points. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt