The Bulldogs traveled to Metter Friday to take on their longest running rivals in the Metter Tigers.
The Bulldogs’ second half comeback came up short with the Tigers taking the game 17-10. Although not showing on the scoreboard, the Bulldog defense shut down the Tigers for three quarters. In a stat that defies logic, the defense held Metter to a total of 43 yards for three quarters but trailed the Tigers 17-0. Turnovers, three, mistakes and penalties, two that took touchdowns off the board, plagued the Bulldogs during the game.
“Aside from the final score, I thought we competed very well,” commented head coach Chris Kearson. “The turnovers put them in fantastic position to score and that has to be fixed, but our guys fought really hard to the final horn. After watching film, I was disappointed in the turnovers, but I was pleasantly surprised with how many 9th and 10th graders were giving us quality minutes. Things don’t get any easier with Lincoln Co. next week coming off a 49-6 beat down of McCormick last Friday.”
Oisin Matthew’s kick sailed into the endzone to put Metter at the 20 to begin the game. The Bulldog defense shut the door forcing the Tigers to punt from their own 15-yard line. The punter shanked the ball after a high snap that would have given the Bulldogs the ball at the Metter 8-yard line. The first mistake of the night, roughing the punter, gave the Tigers new life.
The Bulldogs made their second special teams mistake later in the quarter when high snap to the punter gave Metter the Ball at the Bulldog 12. The defense held, forcing the Tigers to kick a short field goal to lead 3-0 without getting a first down in the first quarter. ECI gave Metter the ball at the Bulldog 13-yard line in the second quarter after the punt returner allowed the ball to hit him for the special team’s third mistake of the night.
Metter once again took advantage of the short field with a pass for touchdown on the first play following the turnover to lead the Bulldogs 10-0 at the half. It was all Bulldogs in the second quarter as the Bulldogs moved the ball up and down the field on the Tiger defense, rushing for 125 in the quarter. But the Bulldogs also had a touchdown called back and a killer fumble that resulted in a
scoop and score for the Tigers.
The Bulldogs scored their only touchdown on a 31-yard run by freshman Chase Johnson. The Tiger offense never touched the ball in the third quarter, had 43 total offensive yards for the game, and led 17-7 after three quarters. The Bulldogs drew a little closer in the fourth on a Matthews 38-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 early in the fourth.
After stopping the Tiger offense all night, the defense was looking for another stop to give it back to their rejuvenated offense. The Tigers went to a 4 widespread and the Bulldogs could not stop the quarterback draws up the middle. The Tigers kept the ball with only a few seconds left, turning the ball over on downs at the Bulldog 22-yard line.
The Tigers intercepted on the first play and ran out the clock with ECI taking the loss 17-10. Including the quarterbacks, the Bulldogs have a mostly all sophomore-freshman backfield who rushed for 184 yards during the game. Chase Johnson led with 65 yards with Tyler Foreman right behind with 59 yards. Brian Steele ended the game with 29 yards and Tuff Boddiford added 26.
The Bulldogs will host Lincoln Co. Friday night at Rountree Field in the home opener.
