It was 68 seasons ago that the Wortham Bulldogs defeated the Hubbard Jaguars at home and now they have that year at zero with a 2019 win, 26-20 in overtime at historic Bulldog Stadium.
Wortham had only one win at home against Hubbard in school history and it was in 1951, when the Bulldogs claimed a 13-7 win but the 2019 version held much more importance, an improvement in the playoff standings where the Bulldogs will travel to Dawson on Friday and play for second place behind district champion Mart.
The Bulldogs took the ball first and took over seven minutes off the clock to put points on the board. Senior quarterback Brandon Coker had a couple of runs for first downs and Riley Baker helped move the offense down the field a little at a time. Wortham had to convert on a fourth down on a Coker run inside the ten. Two plays later, Coker scored from three yards out for the first points of the game. Coker added the conversion run for an 8-0 lead with 4:46 remaining in the opening quarter.
Hubbard moved downfield on their first possession and moved past midfield but turned the ball over on downs. Wortham had a couple of big runs inside the Jaguar 20 before returning the ball to Hubbard on downs.
The Jaguars tied the game in the last two minutes of the second quarter on a short drive following a Wortham fumble. Quarterback Logan Morris finished off the drive with a two yard run and passed to Cooper Martin for the conversion to tie the game at 8-8 heading into the half.
Hubbard took the ball on the first possession of the third quarter. Morris ripped off two big runs down the Bulldog six yard line. He would score his second touchdown of the night on a six yard run to take their first lead of the game. The try for two was no good and the lead stood at 14-8 with 10:38 remaining in the third.
Wortham went back to do what they do best and tied the score at 14-14. Beginning at the 25 yard line, the Bulldogs used 13 plays and Coker completed three of five passes on the drive, including the touchdown on fourth and long to Demarcus Bullard for the 26 yard score. The pass was incomplete for the conversion and the score was tied.
The Bulldogs ended three Jaguar drives with turnovers by Morris interceptions, two by freshman Tanner Bean and the other by Lane McDaniel.
Hubbard took the lead midway through the fourth quarter on a Cooper Martin pass from Morris and a 35 yard score for the 20-14 lead when the conversion failed.
The Bulldogs needed one drive in the final quarter to match the Jaguars and went about 20 yards and were forced to punt and hope the defense could give them the ball back.
The Jaguars picked up a first down on an offsides call, but three plays later were in a third down situation. Morris dropped to pass and his throw was tipped by Ryken Lewis and intercepted by Bean and he reversed his momentum and raced up the near sideline 31 yards to the Hubbard 25 yard line in the final moments of regulation. Coker had three runs for a first down and then he had a seven yard run to set up a first and goal at the two. He would scored the touchdown with 39 seconds remaining in the game. He was sacked on the conversion and the game was tied at 20-20 and would head to overtime.
Hubbard won the toss and took possession of the overtime session at the 25 yard line. On first down, the ball was knocked out of the hands of Morris and Bean recovered and the Bulldogs took their opportunity.
Coker had a nine yard run and Baker ran for the first down to the 14. Facing a fourth down from there, Coker rolled right and reversed left then looked back to his right, and hit Cade McCoslin caught the pass in the front corner of the end zone. He tapped his toe in bounds and the Bulldogs captured the important district win.
Wortham will head to Ed Mitchell Field in Dawson to take on the rival Bulldogs with second place in the district up for grabs. Mart is the champion and the winner of Friday’s game will be the runner-up, the loser in third with Frost the fourth place team. Wortham clinches a playoff spot for the first time in seven seasons, but it’s the last 68 that are erased in the win over Hubbard.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
