The Wortham Bulldog offense suffered four interceptions and the Rosebud-Lott Cougars took advantage of those turnovers with a 32-13 win at Blackcat Stadium on the campus of Mexia High School.
Bringing down a Cougar opponent is Wortham Bulldog #72, Alfredo Molina, during the match-up against Rosebud-Lott on Friday, September 4, 2020.
Wortham could move the ball on offense but the turnover ended four drives, a couple when the Bulldogs were on the verge of scoring.
It was the Bulldog defense with the first big play of the game. Lane McDaniel picked off a Jamarquis Johnson pass and set the Bulldogs up near midfield. Tanner Bean and Diego Saravia had some runs for key first downs and Bean finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The point after failed and the Bulldogs led 6-0
The Cougars answered just before the end of the first quarter. Rosebud-Lott began at the 34-yard line and Johnson accounted for most of the yardage. Steven Ruhl caught a pass across the middle for a first down and Breon Lewis took a jet sweep to the Bulldog three. Johnson scored on the run and the failed point after tied the game at 6- 6.
Rosebud-Lott scored to go ahead in the game late in the first half. Beginning at their own 37-yard line, Johnson and John Paul Reyna had some big runs and Johsnon completed two passes, the second to Colby Coker for the 10 yard touchdown. Lewis added the extra point and the Cougars had their first lead of the game 13- 6.
On the ensuing kickoff, McDaniel picked up the ball and used the blocking in front of him and raced down the far sideline for a 72 yard kickoff return and the Bulldogs tied the game on the point after off the foot of Saravia.
With just over a minute remaining in the half, the Cougars would take the lead. Rosebud-Lott was forced to punt deep in their own territory and a short punt put the Bulldog offense on the field at the Cougar 39. On the first play of the drive, Bulldog quarterback Ryken Lewis threw down the line of scrimmage to his receiver. Coker stepped in front of the pass and raced down the sideline for the 54-yard interception return. The kick failed and the Bulldogs trailed at the half 19-13.
The Wortham offense stalled on the first drive of the second half and punted to the Cougars. Rosebud-Lott needed eight plays to go 63 yards and Lewis finished the offensive possession with a one-yard blast up the middle. The point after failed but the Cougars had their first double digit lead of the game.
Wortham put together a great drive and pushed into scoring position and Bean scored on a nine-yard run that was called back on a penalty. Three plays later the drive stalled on fourth down. The Cougars kept possession for most of the fourth quarter with a 17-play drive that featured two touchdowns called back by penalties, the first with a celebration before crossing the goal line and the second on a holding penalty. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Ruhl caught a 19-yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring.
Bean had over 100 yards rushing in the losing effort and this Friday the Bulldogs will have their home opener. They will welcome in the Dawson Bulldogs in a rivalry that spans over 70 meetings, game time is set for a scheduled 7:30 kickoff.
(photos by Jennifer Lansford)
