The Wortham Bulldogs had their first three games at home and took wins in all three to begin the season with a 24-0 blanking of the Bartlett Bulldogs at historic Bulldog Stadium Friday night.
Wortham had the offensive gem last week but the game began with the defenses taking control and the penalties were plentiful.
Bartlett kicked off to begin the game but the ball hit one of the Wortham players and Bartlett recovered at their own 47-yard line. The needed nine plays and reached the Wortham 25-yard line and were forced to punt and Wortham began with their first possession.
Wortham started at the 20-yard line and quickly had a third and long. Senior quarterback Brandon Coker found Lane McDaniel for a 27-yard gain for a first down. On a second third down play, Coker passed to tight end Demarcus Bullard for an apparent touchdown but it was called back on an illegal block. The Bulldogs later turned the ball over on downs.
The teams exchanged punts and Wortham began their final drive of the half at the Bartlett 43-yard line. Riley Baker and Coker moved the ball on the ground, including a 21-yard run to convert on third down. Inside the Bartlett five-yard line, Coker ran in the quarterback keeper for a three-yard score in the final minute of the half. He converted the conversion run for the 8-0 lead at the half.
The Wortham special teams kicked off to open the second half and it was promptly fumbled in identical fashion as the opening kickoff and Kendall Sterling recovered for Wortham and the Bulldog offense took over but could not score and had to punt.
Wortham did stop the Bartlett offense and began their second possession in Bartlett territory. Two carries by Coker and Baker ended in a 24-yard run to the pylon and the score. Coker added the conversion run and extended the lead to 16-0 with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Bartlett started their next possession near the 40-yard line and it quickly stalled and the Bulldogs line up to punt to Wortham, but the snap was bobbled and Bartlett quarterback Jared Cooper threw a pass downfield that fell incomplete. He was called for intentional grounding and the spot foul put the Wortham offense took over at the Bartlett 21. On third and nine from the 20, Coker passed to Bullard and he began juggling the ball at the five-yard line but held on for the touchdown. Coker took the snap and tossed a jump pass to Bullard for the conversion and the Wortham Bulldogs led 24-0 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Wortham defense put the clamps down on Bartlett and a scoreless fourth quarter set the final score at a 24-0 Wortham win.
The Wortham Bulldogs are 3-0 on the season and will take to the road for the first time on a road trip to Cayuga to take on the Wildcats.
