Bulldogs celebrate happy homecoming with a 22-0 shutout of Bobcats
The Wortham Bulldogs built a 22-0 halftime lead and held the Crossroads Bobcats out of the endzone three times in the second half to tally their second win of the season and first at home on Homecoming.
Wortham finishes their non-district portion of the schedule at 2-3 and will have a week off before beginning district play.
The Bulldog offense started with a bang on the first play from scrimmage. After a short kickoff, Wortham started near midfield. Junior quarterback Brandon Coker handed off to K.J. Jackson and he raced up the near sideline on a 53-yard highlight scoring run. The kick was no good and the Bulldogs led 6-0 only 11 seconds into the game.
Wortham made their presence known on the defensive side of the ball on the Crossroads possession. The Bobcats picked up a first down and then a pitch out was fumbled, and Chance Latham recovered for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs began this drive at the Bobcat 44-yard line. Riley Baker carried for seven yards and Latham caught a 22-yard pass from Coker on a third and long situation. Coker carried inside the ten and finished the drive on an eight-yard run for the touchdown. Jackson added the conversion run for the 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Crossroads moved down the field on the next possession, but the Bulldog defense turned them away. The Bobcat offense picked up a couple of first downs but could not covert a first down and the ball went over to the Bulldogs on downs.
Wortham took over another drive on a missed fourth down late the first half and extended the lead. Coker connected with Latham for a first down pass of 13 yards and a Bobcat penalty set the Bulldogs at the Crossroads 20-yard line. On fourth down from the 17, Coker rolled to his right and passed to Lane McDaniel for the touchdown with 1:39 remaining in the half. Coker passed to Jackson for the two-point conversion and the 22-0 lead.
The Bobcats opened the second half with a long drive inside the Bulldog ten-yard line. The drive stalled, and the Bulldog defense turned them away on fourth down. Wortham lost a fumble on the next drive and got inside the Bulldog twenty and they fumbled, and Jackson recovered.
Wortham gave the ball back to the Bobcats on a short punt. Three running plays and two passes gave the Bulldogs the ball on fourth down. One final drive put the Bobcats at the Wortham 25-yard line as time expired and the Bulldogs closed out a 22-0 win.
The two Bulldog wins have come on shutouts this season with the one Friday night and a road shutout win of 6-0 in Bartlett a couple of weeks ago.
The Wortham Bulldogs get a week off before beginning district play in Frost when they renew their rivalry with the Polar Bears.
RECOVERING A CROSS ROADS FUMBLE for the Wortham Bulldogs is #44 Chance Latham during Friday night’s Homecoming win against the Bobcats. (Top of Page)
SELECTED BY FELLOW STUDENTS, THESE COUPLES WERE HONORED during halftime at the 2018 Wortham Homecoming (left-right): Jayde Hamilton and David Cortez – Football Sweetheart and Cheerleader Hero, Ben Havens and Jessica Black – FFA Beau and Sweetheart, Nick Hergett and Kat McKeand – Band Beau and Sweetheart, Lane McDaniel and Taina Colon – Sophomore Duke and Duchess, Samantha Wright and Riley Baker – Junior Duchess and Duke.
NAMED THIS YEAR’S MR & MISS WHS (right) are Katie Barker and EJ Salazar. The 2018 Homecoming Court includes (at top, left-right): Hallie Fautt, Evan Ray, Ta’Avyonne Felder, Kemontrell Jackson and Jaeden Carter. Named WHS King and Queen (bottom left) are Kemontrell Jackson & Jaeden Carter.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
