The Wortham Bulldogs built a 50-0 lead at the half and they coasted to a 63-0 win over the Frost Polar Bears at the Tundra on Friday night. The Bulldogs keep pace with the Mart Panthers on top of the District 10-2A Division II standings.
Frost entered the game with a freshman heavy roster and the experienced Wortham offense took advantage of the Polar Bear youth. The Wortham Bulldogs have clinched a playoff spot and now look to better the position in the final three regular season games.
The Bulldogs scored on the second play of the game and that was all they would need. Caleb Betts took the ball on a jet sweep and made one cut and raced for the endzone on a 59-yard run. Tanner Bean would run in the conversion and the Bulldogs led 8-0.
A short punt set the Wortham offense as the Frost 40-yard line and the Bulldogs needed only on play. Tanner Bean rushed up the middle for the 40-yard touchdown run and Daniel Mersi added the extra point for the 15-0 just four minutes into the game.
The Bulldogs added a third touchdown of the first quarter late in the frame when Bean added his second touchdown of the night, on a 30-yard run. The extra point was good and lead was 22-0 at the end of the first quarter.
One minute into the second quarter, Betts took a punt almost the distance. His 56-yard punt return set Wortham with a first and goal at the Polar Bear three-yard line. Two plays later, Bean had his third score of the half on a one-yard run and the 28-0 lead following the missed extra point.
Dawson Norcross picked off a pass by Hunter Perry and returned it to the Frost 26-yard line. Junior quarterback Ryken Lewis scored on a 14-yard run and he would also add the conversion run on a bad snap on the point after and the lead stretched to 36-0.
Wortham would add a pair of touchdowns but on a 19-yard run by Bean created a loss for the Bulldog offense. Tanner Bean was injured and left the game and did not return and could be out for a period of time. Lewis finished the longest drive of the night with a five-yard run and the extra point by Mersi extended the lead to 43-0.
Eli Norcross picked off a pass in the final moments of the first half and he returned it to the Polar Bear four-yard line. He lined up in the quarterback position and scored on the four-yard run for the 50-0 halftime lead.
Freshman running back Yancey Bean scored on a two-yard run in the second half and Eli Norcross added a one-yard run in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring at 63-0.
Wortham (5-2, 2-0) is tied with the Mart Panthers for the district lead and will return home to face the Chilton Pirates (1-1). They will travel to Bremond next week and face the Mart Panthers in the regular season finale.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
