Three key big plays for Sheffield High propelled the Bulldogs to a 27-13 win and the third seed in the state playoffs Friday night against new region rival Hatton.

In the first meeting between the schools, Sheffield (5-4, 5-2 Class 2A, Region 8), scored on plays of 29 yards and 59 yards in the first half, and then completed a 42-yard fourth-quarter pass to seal the win after Hatton mounted a second-half comeback.

“We knew they were going to play a lot of man coverage trying to stop the run, and we thought we could get behind them some,” Sheffield coach David Hufstedler said. “We had some chances in the first half but the wind was really blowing the ball around, so we took what they gave us with some little chip routes and drag routes. In the second half, it was just a gutsy call by Coach (Christopher) Dunn to go for it all and we made a great diving catch.”

Sheffield jumped out to a 19-0 halftime lead with a 29-yard touchdown run by Matthew Boutwell in the first quarter, a 59-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Danley to Jametrius Smith midway through the second quarter, and another 13-yard pass from Danley to Smith just before the half.

Hatton (3-6, 3-4) struggled to move the ball in the first half, but on its first third-quarter possession, the Hornets marched 61 yards in 13 plays and scored on a 21-yard pass from Dakota Bishop to Dylan Hughes. The Hornet defense forced a three-and-out, and the offense scored on a 60-yard, 11-play drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Shadoe Stephenson to pull within six, 19-13.