The Mart Panthers built a big 49-0 first half lead and coasted to a 63-0 win over the Wortham Bulldogs in Mart on Monday night.
Wortham had a short time to prepare for the three-time defending state champion with a game against Bremond on Wednesday and then the game with Mart on Monday. The Bulldogs did produce some offense, which is much improved over negative yardage in the last two meetings.
The Bulldog offense took the ball first and were forced into punt formation. The snap sailed over punter Ryken Lewis into the endzone and he was tackled for a safety with 9:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Mart took the free kick and on their first play, quarterback Roddrell Freeman coughed up the football and Dawson Norcross recovered it for the Bulldogs. Wortham could not earn a first down and were forced to punt.
The Panthers scored on the second play of the drive on a Freeman 41-yard run and Mart took a 9-0 lead. The Bulldogs suffered a turnover on the next possession, an interception returned to the 40-yard line. Freeman would score on a two-yard touchdown run and the lead swelled to 16-0.
A short Bulldog punt set Mart up at the Wortham 39-yard line and two plays produced another Panther touchdown. Klyderion Campbell scored on a 20-yard run to extend the lead to 23-0. Wortham would fumble the kickoff and Campbell punched in a ten-yard touchdown run for the 30-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs fumbled their second consecutive kickoff and Mart sent Campbell back to the endzone for his third touchdown, this one on a 20-yard run. Wortham went three and out and had a six-yard punt and Mart began another drive in Wortham territory. Freeman scored on a one-yard touchdown run to swell the lead to 42-0. They scored the final touchdown of the first half on a Keishawn Clater one-yard touchdown run for the 49-0 lead.
The Bulldogs mounted their most impressive drive of the night on the final drive of the first half. Sophomore running back Tanner Bean ripped off a 41-yard run to the Mart 22-yard line. The Bulldogs drove inside the Mart 20-yard line, but the drive stalled on the last play of the half and the Wortham offense turned the ball over on downs.
Mart took possession to open the second half and Mart took to the running attack. Keishawn Clater took over the offense and led the Panthers to a couple of first downs and Clater finished the drive with a 28-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 56-0. With a running clock, Neven Hickman scored on a 20-yard run to conclude the scoring and a 63-0 Panther win.
The Mart offense had three offensive starters with 100-yard rushing (Freeman 7-123 and three touchdowns, Campbell 8-128 and three touchdowns, Clater 9-101 and two touchdowns). Tanner Bean led the Bulldogs with 123 yards on 26 carries.
Wortham will travel to Chilton to take on the Pirates in the regular season finale. The Bulldogs need to beat Chilton to secure fourth place and a playoff spot. Hubbard had players test positive for COVID-19 and the game with Chilton on Saturday was deemed a no contest. Hubbard could be quarantined when the face the Mart Panthers on Friday night. Currently, the Bremond Tigers trail Mart in second place, with Hubbard third and Chilton in fourth and Wortham a game back of Chilton in fifth. The game on Friday is important for the Bulldogs and a playoff spot.
(Sports photography by Melissa Perez)
