The Wortham Bulldogs rebuild entered week number two and fell behind the Rio Vista Eagles 30-0 before falling in their second game at home Friday night. They did score their first points of the season in the 37-6 loss to the Eagles.
The Bulldogs fall to 0-2 on the young season and continue to work on putting players in the right place. They were able to get a defensive takeaway and sustain a couple of drives on offense.
Rio Vista took the ball first and needed on 15 seconds to put the first points on the board.
Quarterback Kaiden Scott dropped to pass and zipped one downfield and Brysen Yadon leaped and hauled in a 58-yard touchdown to take the early lead after they made extra point 7-0.
Wortham punted on their first possession, but they managed to get a stop on the Eagle possession. The Eagle offense moved inside the 25-yard line and big running back Anthony Zepeda took the handoff and pushed his way through the Wortham defense. Linebacker Evan McCoslin reached in and knocked the ball out of his hands and Trynen Cawthorn covered it, and the Bulldogs took over at their own ten. Three plays later, Cawthorn was rushed from the pocket, and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, and the Eagles extended their lead to 9-0.
Rio Vista took the free kick from the safety and moved downfield and would end the quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Scott connected with Yadon for the second time in the game, this time on a 39-yard strike. The extra point was good, and the lead swelled to 16-0.
The Bulldogs picked up a couple of first downs on their next possession and had to punt. Rio Vista went 57 yards in eight plays and Zepeda scored on a bruising 12-yard touchdown run and extended the score to a 23-0 halftime lead.
Wortham took the ball to open the second half and the drive stalled and they lined up in punt formation. Austin Lennington had a big rush and had to scramble, and his pass was short of the first down and the Eagles took over at the Bulldog 23-yard line.
Zepeda scored his second touchdown of the game on a one-yard run and the lead grew to 30-0.
Wortham mounted their best possession of the game on their next opportunity. Cawthorn converted a third down with a pass to Jayden King to midfield. Josh Donnelson burst through the Eagle defense for a 20-yard run and Cawthorn finished the drive with a touchdown pass to Kasen Calame from 18 yards away.
Rio Vista would add a 65-yard touchdown on a fake punt to close out the scoring and claim the 37-6 win.
The Wortham Bulldogs take to the road for the first time in the season when they travel to Jewett to battle the Leon Cougars.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
