Enterprise falls to Tartars

By By Robby Atkinson/staff writer
November 22, 2003
TAYLORSVILLE Taylorsville came into its third round playoff game with Enterprise knowing that it would be a close game. The Bulldogs wished that it would have been closer on this night in Smith County as Taylorsville rolled to an impressive 42-21 over Enterprise and moved on to the Class 2A South State Championship next week on the road.
The game opened with Enterprise taking the ball on offense, but the Bulldogs found no yards to gain as Taylorsville held on defense. The Tartars got on the board first with 8:31 left in the first quarter. Kris Thigpen found Reco Crosby for a 35-yard touchdown strike and put Taylorsville on top 7-0 after the PAT from Colt Bankston.
After another failed Bulldog possession, Taylorsville went back to work with the passing game. The Tartars were pinned back deep in its own territory thanks to a long punt from Cody Windham. Thigpen showed great patience as he connected with Crosby on a 90-yard touchdown pass on just the second play from scrimmage to give Taylorsville a 13-0 lead after a failed PAT.
The Tartars marched down the field once again to open the second and take a 21-0 lead. Mason Grissom scored on an eight-yard run to extend the lead after a two-point conversion by Justin Wilson. Taylorsville continued to pour on the points with 2:18 left in the first half on a 56-yard pass from Thigpen to Ralph Curtis. Taylorsville added on final score just before the end of the second quarter.
The touchdown was set up on a 69-yard pass by Thigpen to Andre Ulmer with 42 seconds left in the half. Horace McGill took the ball from four yards out and take the game into the dressing room with Taylorsville on top 35-0.
Enterprise finished the game with only 162 yards of total offense, but the Bulldogs season was remarkable despite the loss.
Thigpen didn't see action for the rest of the contest, but finished with an amazing first half stat sheet. Thigpen went 11-of-16 passing for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Enterprise did have a lot of positive events take place in the second half on offense. Adam Simpson got the Bulldogs on the board with a three-yard touchdown run with 7:46 left in the third to cut the lead to 35-7.
Taylorsville added its final touchdown of the night with 11:35 left in the fourth on a 22-yard run by Grissom to make the score 42-7. Windham and Corey Irby added a touchdown apiece late in the game to make the final 42-21.
Taylorsville moves on to meet Seminary on the road next week for the Class 2A South State Championship. Seminary took a 38-21 win over Taylorsville earlier this season. Enterprise wrapped up the 2003 season with
an 8-5 record.