The Wortham Bulldogs were on a playoff pairings list for the first time in seven seasons and they had to battle a Lovelady team that was on a roll, and they rolled by the Bulldogs 62-20 Thursday night on a foggy field at Centerville High School.

Wortham last appeared in the playoffs in 2012 when they were defeated by the Overton Mustangs 34-7 at Palestine High School but the Bulldog fans may want to get used to more than ten games with a young roster and some athletic talent coming into future Bulldog teams.

The Bulldogs took the ball first and went to work as they have accomplished all year. The six-play drive had a missed third and short but the cadence forced the Lions the jump offsides on fourth down and the Bulldogs took advantage. Senior quarterback Brandon Coker took off on a 67-yard run, his longest of the season down to the six. He dropped to pass and found a wide-open Cade McCoslin for the six-yard touchdown pass, his second of the season.

The Wortham defense forced a turnover on downs but it was not to last. On the first play of the drive, the Bulldogs offense coughed up the ball and the Lions recovered. On their first play, Josh Martinez took off on a 39-yard run for the touchdown. The point after failed the game was tied at 6-6.

After a Bulldog short punt from deep in their own end of the field, Lovelady began the first of five straight drives on the Wortham side of the 50-yard line. Needing only five plays, Martinez scored on the eight-yard run and the Lions took a 12-6 lead.

The Bulldogs matched the score and tied the game near the end of the first quarter. Coker connected with Clayton Munster on a 12-yard pass on a third down and then he called his own number for a 46-yard run to the Lion one. On the first play of the second quarter, he pushed in from the one and tied the game at 12-12 when the conversion run was no good.

Lovelady moved downfield and got the lead back on their first possession of the second quarter. The five-play drive, all runs by Martinez, finished with a 15-yard touchdown run and the 18-12 lead.

Wortham was forced to punt again from deep in their own end and the Lions took over at the Wortham 43. This three-play drive, all runs by Martinez, resulted in his fourth touchdown of the game. He added the conversion run and the Lovelady Lions led at the half 26-12.

Lovelady would extend the lead on the first play of the second half. Quarterback Slade Murray handed off to Martinez and he raced 50 yards through the Bulldog defense for his fifth touchdown of the night. Nick Ochoa added the extra point and the Lions led 33-12.

The Lovelady defense intercepted a pass near midfield and Logan LeBlanc returned it to the Bulldog 25. From there, the Lions needed four plays and Murray scored on a quarterback keeper and the lead swelled to 40-12.

The Lions would add one more touchdown before the end of a rough third quarter for the Bulldogs. Martinez had three big runs to inside the Bulldog 15-yard line. Slade hit LaBlanc on the slant for the 14-yard touchdown and a 47-12 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Bulldog offense kept working and moving the ball and they turned possession over on downs near the end of the third quarter. From the Bulldog 42, Eric Anderson, in relief of Martinez, scored on the play and Lovelady added to the lead at 54-12. The final score came on an odd call when an incomplete pass was called a fumble and then returned for a Lovelady touchdown. Offensive lineman Morgan Thrasher scored the conversion run for the 62-12 lead.

The Bulldogs continued battling and put the final touches on the season with the final drive. Freshman Tanner Bean had a couple of carries for a first down and Coker hit McCoslin with a 30-yard pass, the longest of the season. Lane McDaniel caught a nine-yard pass and a pair of Coker runs to the 13. From there, Michael Chasteen, on his first carry of the season, bulldozed his way in for the touchdown, and Coker added the conversion for the final points of the season.

The Wortham Bulldogs finish the season at 7-4, the most since 2004, and their future is bright. From this point forward for the next few years, teams are going to have deal with the Bulldogs.

(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)