The Wortham Bulldogs broke open the game in the second quarter and cruised to a 58-22 win at The Tundra in Frost over the Frost Polar Bears to hold onto a playoff spot in District 10-2A Division II play.
The game had a rocky start for the Bulldogs when the drive stalled in the opening minutes of the game. The ball sailed over punter Yancey Bean’s head and the Polar Bears took over at the Bulldog three-yard line. The Polar Bears needed only one play and Mario Porter scored on the run to take the lead. His extra point was no good and Frost led 6-0 with 9:36 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs did get on the board in the next possession and took the lead they would not relinquish. Using seven plays, all on the ground, junior quarterback Jon Ross Black scored on a four-yard run to tie the score. He also added the conversion run to take the 8-6 lead.
The Bulldog defense forced a three and out on the next possession and the Bulldogs went back to work. This drive took six plays, all on the ground, and Black scored on a two-yard run. Bean added the conversion run to extend the lead to 16-6.
Frost fumbled on their next possession and Ty Carroll recovered and the Bulldogs added to the lead to begin the second quarter. Black dropped to pass and connected with Evan McCoslin for the 33-yard touchdown. Black ran in the conversion and the lead grew to 24-6.
Black intercepted his fourth pass of the season midway through the second quarter and the Bulldogs took over at midfield. McCoslin had four carries on the drive and Black finished with his third touchdown of the game on a two-yard run. Black passed to Charlie Cortes for the conversion and the lead swelled to 30-6 near the end of the half.
The Polar Bear offense put points on the board at the end of the half. Facing a third down and long, Edwin Alvarado tossed a pass high, and Brady Martin ran under it with Bulldog defenders around him and he raced up the sideline, completing the 76-yard pass play. J.C. Woods ran in the conversion and Frost cut the lead to 30-14.
The Bulldogs would not be finished for the first half. After a Frost penalty moved the ball inside the Frost 30, Black passed to Cortes for a 30-yard touchdown with ten seconds remaining. The conversion was no good and the Bulldogs led at the half 36-14.
Frost took the first possession of the second half and used eleven plays to march 75 yards. Alvarado passed to Porter for 40 yards to convert a third and long and Alvarado passed to Cooper Curl for a 22-yard touchdown. Porter ran for the conversion and the Bulldog lead was cut to 36-22.
Wortham matched the score with a six-play drive covering 44 yards. McCoslin scored on a ten-yard touchdown run and the failed conversion put the Bulldogs lead to 42-22.
The teams turned the ball over downs throughout the end of the third and most of the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs put up a pair of touchdowns in the final minutes of the game. Black passed to McCoslin for a ten-yard touchdown. Cash Perez, who returned to the lineup after sitting out a half and scored on the conversion. Jocxi Mejia scored on a 76-yard touchdown run to end the scoring for the Bulldogs.
The Mart Panthers lead the district with Dawson and will meet on October 27. Wortham is in third place with Hico in the final playoff spot if the season ended today. Wortham will host the Mart Panthers on Friday night and travel to Dawson after the October 27 bye week. The next three weeks in the regular season will determine the playoff spots in District 10-2A Division II.
(Photos by Melissa Perez)
