The Cayuga Wildcats scored 24 points in their first three possessions and held off the Wortham Bulldogs 24-6, giving the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.
Wortham is an up and coming program but found a team with a huge push in the defensive line and made trouble for the Wortham offense in the first half. Penalties and long third down chances were also a contributing factor for Wortham on their first road contest of the season.
The Bulldogs took the ball first and had a quick first down on a 19 yard by senior quarterback Brandon Coker. They went backward and faced a third and 24 and ended the drive with a short punt.
Cayuga began their first drive at the 41-yard line used ten plays, all on the ground and scored on a Casen Grasch six-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Caden Mullican passed to Colton Stephens for the two-point conversion and the Wildcats led 8-0.
Wortham had another three and out and the Wildcats took over at their own 42-yard line. Two big plays later, Kaden Joyce scored on a 20-yard run. Grasch added the conversion run for the 16-0 first quarter lead.
The Bulldog offense could not muster a first down on the next possession and punted into the end zone and the Cayuga took over on offense. Billy Kelly took the ball on the jet sweep and turned the drive into a one play score on an 80-yard run up the far sideline. Grasch ran in the conversion and extended the lead to 24-0 and the score held through the half.
The Wortham defense stiffened in the second half and kept the Wildcat offense from moving successfully. Cayuga advanced a third quarter drive inside the Bulldog ten and Mullican had a pass tipped and Lane McDaniel picked it off and raced up to the Bulldog 20.
Cayuga had a drive stall at midfield and Wortham took over and used 11 plays and drove in to score their only touchdown of the night. Coker converted a fourth down from the 40-yard line and another on the final play of the drive. Coker raced up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:03 remaining on the fourth quarter clock. The conversion failed and the Wildcats maintained a 24-6 lead.
Logan Hazel slipped in a recovered the onsides kick and took over for one last try for points before the clock ran out and the Wildcats preserved the win.
Wortham (3-1) remains on the road for their final non-district game on Friday in Crossroads. The Bobcats lost to Bulldog rival Frost last Friday 51-30. Following the open week on October 4, the Bulldogs begin district play with the Frost Polar Bears.
