The Wortham Bulldogs were tied 6-6 with the top ranked Mart Panthers with a minute to go in the first half, but Mart pulled away late and won a 36-6 district matchup Friday night at historic Bulldog Stadium.
The top ranked Mart Panthers have defeated Wortham in all six district matchups and one time in the playoffs over the last few years. With a large span of not playing, the Bulldogs last defeated Mart on October 5, 1928 (19-6). Mart has been to the Division II final at AT & T Stadium the last two seasons.
Mart took the first possession and moved through the Bulldog defense, converting twice on third down and once on fourth down to move inside the Bulldog five. On third and goal, the Panthers fumbled the snap and lost 26 yards, and the Bulldog defense turned them away after a 15-play drive and seven minutes off the first quarter clock.
The Panthers forced a three and out and took over at midfield. This eight-play drive ended in a score, D’Angelo Rhodes plunged in for the one yard score. The try for two was no good and the Panthers led 6-0 with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Another three and out for the Bulldog offense set up a punt. The bobbled snap put the Mart Panther offense at the Bulldog 36. Ah’ maad Scott ran for 15 and a first down inside the Bulldog 20. The Bulldog defense stiffened when Nathan Chasteen and Blake Hadden teamed up for a sack and then a forced fumble was recovered by Yancey Bean.
The Wortham offense could not get going on the ground, so senior quarterback Jon Ross Black took to the airway. He found Kymani Johnson down the middle for the 79-yard touchdown and tied the score at 6-6. The pass for two failed and the score remained tied.
Mart burned the final seven minutes of the first half with a 14-play drive. Medlock scored on a four-yard run and the Panthers regained the lead. The try for two was no good and after the play, tempers flared between the teams and when the dust had settled, there were multiple ejections with :30 seconds remaining in the first half.
The kickoff was bobbled by the Bulldogs and Mart recovered at the Wortham 34. Three plays later, Rhodes completed the fade to Landry Hinton for the 30-yard touchdown on the final play of the half. Rhodes ran in the conversion and the Panthers led 20-6 at the half.
The teams exchanged punts to open the second half and Wortham went on their best drive of the night. After nine plays, the Bulldogs reached the Mart 38 before a fumble turned possession back to the Panthers.
Scott was responsible for 40 yards of the next drive and Rhodes scored on a two-yard and after the conversion pass built a 28-6 lead with one minute remaining in the third quarter.
Mart kept the Bulldog offense at bay with Lance Jones stepping in for Black after the altercation near the half. The Panthers tacked on a final touchdown by Medlock and the conversion pass put the final score was a 36-6 Mart victory.
Mart and Goldthwaite continue to lead the district race with Bremond one game back. Chilton, Wortham, Frost, and Hubbard all have one district win. Wortham returns home on Friday to battle the winless Meridian Yellowjackets. It will be the annual homecoming game for Wortham.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
