The Wortham Bulldogs had some high hopes heading into the season and the first leg of the journey came with a season opening win over the Itasca Wampus Cats.
The Bulldog offense averaged just over 110 yards per game last season and Friday night got 251 yards on the first night with multiple running backs and timely passing to sustain drives and convert third downs, and more importantly, no turnovers.
Wortham took the ball to start the game with 80 yards in front of them. Senior running back Riley Baker had a run of seven yards and Lane McDaniel added a ten-yard run for a first down. Freshman Tanner Bean saw his first action and the Bulldogs worked downfield eating time off the clock on a long drive. On the twelve play, facing a fourth and six on the Wampus Cat 20, quarterback Brandon Coker tossed a pass to converted lineman to tight end DeMarcus Bullard for the touchdown. The point after was no good but the Bulldogs melted away over half of the first quarter.
Itasca used up the remaining time of the first quarter with a touchdown drive that went ten plays. Javonn Reed finished the drive with a one-yard run and that point after was no good and the score was tied at 6-6 early in the second quarter.
Wortham went back to work on offense and picked up right where they left off. Beginning at their own 46, Baker ripped off a 16-yard run and Coker had a couple of runs for a first down. On the tenth play of the drive, Coker followed his huge offensive line and the Bulldogs regained the lead 13-6, following Michael Chasteen’s extra point.
Itasca began driving on their second possession when Alfredo Molina knocked the ball out of Cedric Johnson’s grasp and Bean pounced on it for the first turnover on the season for the Bulldog defense. The Wampus Cats finished the half driving and reached midfield and the Bulldog defense turned them away on a Coker interception in the waning seconds of the first half and the Bulldogs held onto a 13-6 lead at the half.
With long drives in the game, the number of possessions was shortening the game. The teams exchanged punts to open the second half and Itasca scored to close the game midway through the third quarter. Quarterback Andrew Arellano scored on a one yard on another ten-play drive cutting the lead to 13-12. The try for two was broken up by a tipped pass and interception by Baker and the Bulldog lead held.
The Bulldog offense took the ball and ran out the remaining time in the third quarter. A key play of the drive was converting a third and eight, a scrambling Coker found his converted lineman fullback Clayton Munster on a 22-yard catch and run for a first down. Baker carried down to the two and Bean finished the drive to extend the lead to 20-12.
Itasca would put their final score of the game on the sixth drive of ten plays or more for both teams. Reed was the workhorse on the drive with key runs and first downs. Arellano completed a pass to Chase Rutherford inside the Wortham 20. Five plays later, Arellano scored the touchdown cutting the lead to 20-18 with just over four minutes remaining in the game. The try for two was no good and the lead held at 20-18.
The Bulldogs were forced to punt, and a short punt put Itasca at their own 39-yard line for a chance to win. A third down became an Itasca first down on a Bulldog penalty. Facing a fourth and three at the Wortham 39, Arellano completed a screen pass to David Arellano. He turned upfield and appeared headed for a first down when linebacker Chance Latham came from nowhere to knock Arellano down before the first down marker. The Bulldogs ran out the remaining seconds to preserve the win.
Wortham has the second game of their first three at home Friday against the Saints of Dallas First Baptist Academy.