MOBILE — W.S. Neal tried some unique plays Friday night — including a fake field goal — but came up short against UMS-Wright in the Eagles’ first region game of the season.

W.S. Neal Eagles fell 37-6 to the No. 10-ranked team in class 4A.

The loss dropped the Eagles of East Brewton to 0-2 and 0-1 in region play while UMS-Wright improved to 1-1 and 1-0 in region play.

“We played a good team tonight,” W.S. Neal head coach Doug Hoehn said. “We told the kids all week they were good. (UMS) just played a very good team last week (McGill-Toolen). I think they are well coached and they did not hurt themselves and we didn’t expect them to. We were just a little flat tonight.”

After failing to score last week in their opener against McGill-Toolen, the Bulldogs scored early Friday night.

W.S. Neal went four-and-out on their first offensive series to start the game and would see the Bulldogs use five plays to get on the board first and take a 7-0 lead with 8:13 left in the first quarter.

UMS later added their second touchdown with 3:44 left in the first to lead 14-0.

UMS added two touchdowns in the second quarter while holding the Eagles scoreless to take a 28-0 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, W.S. Neal fielded a punt at the 2-yard line and on their next offensive play, was sacked for a safety to trail 30-0. UMS added another touchdown in the third quarter to claim a 37-0 lead over the Eagles, while Marquese Banks would score for W.S. Neal late in the fourth.

“We were just a little flat and could not put some things together,” Hoehn said. “A lot of that had to do with UMS. They had a good game plan and their kids played hard every play. They are just well coached. We would have to play at our best to come out of here with a win tonight. They were a tough opponent and I am not going to take anything away from UMS. I just think we need to figure out how to get to our happy medium. We need to get where we are not too excited and not flat.”

Hoehn said he was proud of his team for not quitting and getting points on the board late in the game.

“We never quit late in the game, and they have not quit in any games,” he said. “We just have to stop the mistakes, but we have not quit. They drove the ball down there and scored. I think they (UMS-Wright) had three scores tonight where they converted third or fourth down and 17 yards or more to go. We just have to stop that. You can’t fair catch a ball on the 2-yard line. We are going to get better. I have good kids and they work hard. We just have to keep working.”

The No. 10 Bulldogs racked up 436 total yards of offense with 300 on the ground and 136 in the air. UMS had 209 yards rushing in the first half and 81 passing.

For W.S. Neal, the Eagles tallied 237 yards of total offense with 219 on the ground and 18 in the air.

Banks led the Eagles rushing with 11 carries for 106 yards and one touchdown.

Hunter Mullins added 75 yards on eight carries.

Quarterback Dylan Godwin was 4-for-10 passing for 18 yards and one interception. Ashton Elliott led the Eagles in receiving with one catch for 12 yards.

W.S. Neal will be back in region play next week at No. 2 Jackson. The Aggies defeated Saraland 57-7 Friday night.

Game time is set for 7 p.m.