The Wortham Bulldogs endured a long game with 40 penalties and over 400 yards combined to take a road win at Ed Mitchell Field in Dawson Friday night. The 42-30 win puts the Bulldogs at 2-1 on the season.
Wortham was flagged 19 times for 170 yards on the night and the Dawson Bulldogs had 21-233 totaling 403 yards which was more than both offenses could amass on the night.
Wortham lost a fumble on the opening kickoff and Dawson made quick work of the early turnover. It took seven plays to go 43 yards and Isaiah Johnson went the final 14 yards on a quarterback keeper for the early six-point lead.
It was late in the first quarter when the Wortham offense took over and moved into scoring position. Tanner Bean recovered a fumble and a personal foul was assessed and the Wortham Bulldog offense started at the Dawson 40. The rushing attack of Bean and Ryken Lewis moved inside the Dawson 20. Lewis threw for the final 12 yards to freshman receiver Jon Ross Black for the score and the failed conversion left the score tied at 6-6.
Midway through the second quarter, the Bulldogs put another scoring drive together. Tanner Bean had five carries on the drive and Lewis dropped to pass and hit freshman receiver Yancey Bean, Tanner’s younger brother, for the 47-yard touchdown. Tanner Bean ran in the conversion for the 14-6 Wortham lead.
The lead stretched to 20-6 when the Dawson drive ended in a Derek Bullard interception and 21-yard return to the Dawson 16-yard line. Tanner Bean finished the short drive with a one-yard run.
Dawson wasted little time answering the score on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Isaac Johnson to cut the lead to 20-14 following the successful conversion run.
Wortham wasted no time answering that score. Hernesto Reyes took the ball off the ground on the ensuing kickoff and raced up the middle of the coverage team for the 63-yard kickoff return. Tanner Bean passed to Cash Perez for the conversion and the 28-14 halftime lead.
The second quarter took almost 45 minutes to complete with 18 penalties combined for almost 200 yards.
Johnson and Johnson connected for the Dawson Bulldogs for the first touchdown of the second half. The long pass play covered 74 yards and Isaiah Johnson ran in the conversion and the lead was sliced to six at 28-22.
The Wortham offense pulled ahead to stay as the teams advanced to the fourth quarter. Lewis scored on a quarterback keeper and Tanner Bean added the conversion run for a 36-22 lead.
Dawson would cut the lead to 36-30 on a short run by Isaac Johnson but the Wortham offense took control at the line of scrimmage. The offensive paved the way for Tanner Bean for four carries on the drive and the last one a 15-yard touchdown for the final score of 42-30.
Defensive linemen Anthony Fortoul and Jason Evans controlled the line of scrimmage. Fortoul had 14 tackles and Evans forced three fumbles. Linebacker Michael Chasteen had double figures in tackles and Bullard and Lewis had interceptions.
Tanner Bean had 189 yards on 28 carries to lead all offensive output on the night.
Wortham goes back on the road to take on the Cayuga Wildcats on Friday night. The Wildcats (0-3) were defeated by the Grapeland Sandies 36-20 in a road game.
(Photos by Melissa Perez)
