The Wortham Bulldogs allowed a late touchdown and fell in their final non-district tune up 35-26 to the Blooming Grove Lions at Bulldog Stadium Friday night.
Both teams came into the game unbeaten at 3-0 and Wortham lead early, but penalties and a couple of offensive miscues allowed a couple of short Blooming Grove drives for scores and was the difference in the game.
Bringing down their opponent is Wortham Bulldogs #7 Yancey Bean and #75 Anthony Fortoul.
Wortham took the opening kickoff and took 12 plays and marched 64 yards for the first score of the game. Senior quarterback Ryken Lewis passed to sophomore Jesse Saldana for eight yards, converting on a third down and then to senior Derek Bullard for 32 yards, converting a second third down on the drive. Senior running back Tanner Bean would finish the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. The conversion run was no good, but the Bulldogs led 6-0 midway through the first quarter.
Blooming Grove began their first drive near midfield following a 27-yard kickoff return by Kelton Bell. Junior quarterback Rhett Southard passed to DeMarco Debrow for 28 yards down to the five-yard line and senior running back Timmy Hamilton scored from that distance. Emmanuel Rosas kicked the extra point and the Lions took a 7-6 lead.
The teams exchanged punts into the second quarter and Lions extended their lead with 2:35 remaining in the first half. Noah Hutchison raced up the middle on a 35-yard punt return to the Bulldog 18-yard line. It took four plays and the final nine yards were run in by Bell and the Rosas point after extended the lead to 14-6.
Sophomore kick returner Yancey Bean had a 58-yard kickoff return to the Lion 17-yard line to set up a short field for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs covered those 17 yards in five plays and Bean scored on a four-yard touchdown run. The conversion run failed and the Bulldogs closed the gap to 14-12 at the half.
Pushing through to gain some yardage is Wortham Bulldog #7 Yancey Bean as #14 Derek Bullard and #20 Preston Batts come up to assist.
The Lions had the first possession of the second half and needed only five plays to extend the lead. Southard completed a pass to Bell that covered 39 yards to the Bulldog 20-yard line and a first down. Hutchison ran in the final 13 yards and the extra point created a nine-point gap in the score at 21-12.
The Bulldogs went three and out on their next possession and had to punt from deep in their own territory and the Lions answered again to take their largest lead of the game. Beginning at the Wortham 41 and using a personal foul penalty for a facemask, Bell caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Southard and the point after made the Lion lead 28-12.
The Bulldog offense answered keyed by a Bean 32 yard run inside the Lion 20-yard line. Lewis kept on a quarterback sweep from the four-yard line and the Bulldogs cut the lead to 28-20 on the conversion pass from Lewis to Bullard.
Wortham took advantage of a short Blooming Grove punt and closed the gap to 28-26. Bean had a 43-yard run to the one and he finished with the touchdown and could not score on the conversion, but the Bulldogs closed to within two points.
The Bulldog defense got a stop but the offense advanced to midfield and faced a third and four. Lewis was under pressure and tried to pass but the ball went backwards and was covered by the Bulldogs for a 23-yard loss and they had to punt. Lewis launched a 50-yard punt and the Lions took over at their 38 with about six minutes remaining. Hutchison ripped off a 28-yard run and Kegan Hurford caught a 28-yard pass to the Bulldog 12. Hutchison scored on a ten-yard run to extend the lead to 35-26.
The Bulldogs had three minutes to score twice and take the lead. They reached midfield and Lewis was intercepted and the Lions ran out the remaining minute to seal the game.
Tanner Bean had 30 carries for 176 yards and three touchdowns and Lewis added 99 yards passing in the loss.
The Wortham Bulldogs (3-1) take to the road for the opener of 10-2A Division II play. They will travel to Hubbard to take on the Jaguars. In other district games, Mart travels to Meridian, and the Hico Tigers will host the Frost Polar Bears. Dawson draws the open week for the beginning of district play.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
