The Wortham Bulldogs scored two second half touchdowns to battle back into the ball game, but it was not enough for the Bulldogs to gain a home district win. They would fall to the Hico Tigers 23-22 at Bulldog Stadium Friday night.
Wortham took the first possession and took almost ten minutes off the first quarter clock. The drive took 17 plays and 55 yards, and the Bulldogs put the first points on the board. Junior quarterback Jon Ross Black dropped to pass and dumped a lateral to offensive lineman Anthony Fortoul, who had reported as eligible. He took the ball and rumbled to the near pylon for the 13-yard score and the early lead. The conversion run was short, but the Bulldogs led 6-0.
The Tigers answered quickly in only four plays, and they would take a quick lead. Senior quarterback Carson Keller passed to Javier Guerrero down to the ten-yard line and Keller scored on a keeper to tie the score near the end of the first quarter. Keller passed to Preston Roach for the conversion and Hico took an 8-6 lead.
The Tigers forced a fumble on the kickoff return and they took over at the Bulldog 31-yard line. They would use trick play to extend the lead this time. Keller threw a backward pass to Tyler Jackson, and he threw it back to Keller for the touchdown and after the extra point made the score 15-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The teams exchanged possessions and when Wortham turned the ball over on downs at the Hico ten-yard line, the Tigers made the march to extend the lead further. Ten plays later, Buck Powell scored on a 12-yard run and Price Mullin added the conversion and the Tigers had a 23-6 lead.
Hico had the first possession of the second half and quickly were forced to punt. Black returned the kick to near midfield and the Bulldogs went to work. Junior running back Yancey Bean had a pair of runs that covered the 57 yards, the second on a 35-yard touchdown run to cut into the Tiger lead. Cash Perez ran for the conversion and the Bulldogs cut the lead to 23-14.
The teams traded turnovers to end the third quarter, the final play of the quarter was a Black interception that would put the Bulldogs back on offense.
Beginning at their 20, the Bulldogs trusted the running game and stalled at the 35. On fourth down, Black completed a pass to Charlie Cortes for 27 yards, extending the drive. Bean took off on a 25-yard run inside the Tiger ten-yard line. On fourth and goal, Black pushed through on a two-yard run. Black attempted a pass to Bean on the conversion, but a Tiger defender tipped it, and it landed in the arms of Evan McCoslin and he scored the conversion and cut the lead to 23-22.
The Bulldog defense tried to get the ball back and the Tigers began their possession at their 36-yard line. Hico ran eleven plays and moved inside the Bulldog ten-yard line and went into victory formation to preserve the narrow 23-22 win.
Mart continues to lead the district at 3-0 and Dawson is a half game back at 2-0. Hico moves into third place with a 2-1 record and would hold the tiebreaker over the Wortham Bulldogs, also at 2-1.
Wortham will travel to Frost to take on the winless Polar Bears and could clinch a playoff spot with a win.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
Additional photos in our Oct. 11th print edition (on newsstands until Tuesday afternoon).
