Bulldogs Beat Centerville, 2 Games from Playing in Championship, CROCKETT, December 1, 2013 - The Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs went to Crockett on Friday night and gave the fans something that they're not accustomed to; a close game. Usually, the 2013 Bulldogs have their fans laid back and relaxing by about midway through the 3rd quarter. Friday night seemed like it would be the usual blowout runaway as the Dogs built a nice halftime lead only to see it nearly evaporate right before our nervous eyes. On the first play from scrimmage, Keegan Mitchell took a handoff and blasted down the sideline at warp speed for a 61 yard touchdown. Things continued to go nicely and by the half, it was all Bulldogs as they lead 22 to 0. Late in the fourth quarter, some fans may have been reaching for their automated external defibrillators.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter:
11:40 Keegan Mitchell takes pitch out from quarterback Hayden Armstrong and runs 61 yards for a TD. Malyk Johnson ran in 2 point conversion. Dogs 8, Tigers 0
2:21 Johnson takes handoff from Armstrong and runs in TD from 7 yards out. Dogs missed 2 point conversion. Dogs 14, Tigers 0.
Second Quarter:
1:03 Mitchell takes pitch out from Armstrong and runs in from 9 yards out. Johnson runs in 2 point conversion. Dogs 22, Tigers 0.
Third Quarter:
10:12 Tigers 10 yard TD pass, with PAT. Dogs 22, Tigers 7
00:36 Tigers 1 yard TD run with PAT. Dogs 22, Tigers 14
Fourth Quarter:
4:32 Tigers 6 yard TD run. Missed 2 point conversion (they were going for the tie, but Malyk Johnson intercepted the pass attempt and helped preserved the Bulldog lead). Final Score: Dogs 22, Tigers 20.
Commentary
This was a game that came down to the wire. It's in the moments when everything is on the line that you find out who the better team is. On this night, it was the Bulldogs. When the Tigers scored a touchdown with 4:32 remaining in the game, they went for the 2 point conversion in an attempt to tie the score. The Tiger Quarterback dropped back and launched a pass towards the back of the endzone where he had a receiver with outstretched arms, but Malyk Johnson reached out and grabbed the pass and took the ball out of the endzone, was nearly tackled inside the five but refused to go down. Keeping himself upright, Johnson broke through and sprinted down the sideline with the Tiger quarterback giving chase. The Tiger QB leaped out and managed to tackle Johnson just short of a touchdown. This was the clutch play of the year for the Bulldogs. Johnson's hustle preserved the Bulldog lead and ultimately the victory. After the Tigers failed to recover an onside kick, the Bulldogs continued to do what they had to do. They worked the clock and got enough first downs to sit on the ball and run out the clock as the Tigers were powerless to stop them. That's what championship teams do; find a way to win. The Centerville Tigers were a quality team that was obviously going to come out swinging in the second half. They gave the Bulldogs a run for their money, but only one day after Thanksgiving, this night was the Tigers' black Friday. Head Coach, Seven Armstrong told his men after the game that they have to play a full 4 quarters of solid football if they hope to keep advancing in the playoffs. "It doesn't get any easier", he said. "Don't wait for someone else to step up and make a play, you have to step up and make the play", he said.
The Dogs are now only 2 games from playing in the State Championship. They'll have to be focused like a laser beam as the next game will be against undefeated Waskom this Friday night in (yuck!) Carthage at 7:30 pm.
Willie P. Openshaw, Editor
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