The Marlin Bulldogs tallied 32 points in the second quarter and built a 38-8 halftime lead and dashed Homecoming for the Wortham Bulldogs 54-32 at Bulldog Stadium on Friday night.
Marlin put themselves in great position taking advantage of a fumble return, interception return and kickoff returns deep into Wortham territory.
The Wortham defense made the first mark in the game by stopping the Marlin offense on fourth down on the games opening possession.
Marlin picked up a couple of first downs and marched to the Wortham ten-yard line. An incomplete pass and a penalty set would put Marlin on a fourth and goal from the 25-yard line. A quarterback scramble by Desmond Woodson, Jr. came up short and the Wortham offense took over.
Wortham drove to near midfield and the Marlin defense caused a fumble and recovered in the Wortham end of the field. Woodson would end the drive with a ten-yard run to open the scoring. The pass for two failed and Marlin led 6-0.
Marlin added another touchdown in the second quarter. They marched 62 yards in eight plays with a key run from Ty Harris to the Wortham 26-yard line. A completed to pass Derion Gullette to the five-yard line set the Marlin offense up with a first and goal. Trajon Butler ran through the Wortham defense for the touchdown and a 12-0 lead when the Bulldogs stopped the Marlin conversion attempt.
Wortham was held on the next possession and were forced to punt. A good return was called back on a penalty and the Marlin offense began at the 25-yard line. It took only one play for Marlin to add to their score. Woodson tossed a short pass to Zha’Mauryon Lofton and he took care of the rest, completing a 75-yard catch and run. The conversion failed and the lead stretched out to 18-0.
Wortham made a deep threat into Marlin territory before turning the ball over on downs. Woodson threw his second touchdown pass of the night to Butler covering 73 yards. Woodson hit Lofton for the conversion and the Marlin Bulldogs were in control at 26-0.
The Wortham offense were able to stop the Marlin momentum for a bit with their first touchdown drive. Tanner Bean accounted for all 60 yards on the five-play drive, the last on a ten-yard run for the score. Bean also added the conversion run and the Marlin lead was trimmed to 26-8.
Marlin tallied two more touchdowns in the final minute of the first half. Butler caught his second touchdown pass of the game on a 28-yard grab and then the Wortham offense suffered an interception and Lofton returned it 68 yards for the pick six to end the first half.
Both teams exchanged punts to open the second half and Marlin scored first in the third quarter off a Wortham possession. The ball was knocked loose from Bean and Je’mere Hartsfield scooped it up and returned it 72 yards for the touchdown. The two-point pass was good and the lead stretched to 46-8.
The Wortham offense was put in good field position by the kick return team and Caleb Betts was the driving force for the returns. His 24-yard return put the Wortham offense at the Marlin 38 and four plays later, junior quarterback Ryken Lewis hit a wide-open Cash Perez and he dove across the goal line for the 24-yard touchdown. Bean added the conversion run and the lead was cut to 46-16.
The Bulldogs of Wortham built a little second half momentum by turning Marlin away at the ten-yard line and turning that into a 90-yard drive. Eleven plays, all on the ground with the running of Tanner Bean, Michael Chasteen and Yancey Bean put the Bulldogs in Marlin territory. Lewis finished the drive with a five-yard run for the score. Bean added the conversion run and the Marlin Bulldogs led 46-24.
Marlin added a touchdown on the fourth scoring pass of the night for Woodson and restored the lead to 30. Wortham drove the length of the field and added a touchdown with 44 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter. Lewis added his second score of the night on a ten-yard run and the final score was set at 54-32.
The Wortham Bulldogs finish the non-district schedule at 3-2 and head into the bye week for a much-needed break. They have some injuries that need to heal up before beginning District 10-2A play on October 8. They will take on the Hubbard Jaguars on the road to open district play on that night.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
