The Wortham Bulldogs are 3-0 on the young season with a 60-27 win over the Leon Cougars on their home opener at Bulldog Stadium Friday night.
The Bulldogs came in heavily favored but the Cougars kept the game close for the first half, scoring 20 of their 27 in the first half.
Wortham was set to receive the opening kickoff, but the ball was kicked straight up and was bobbled by the Bulldog return team and the Cougars recovered at the Wortham 45-yard line.
Putting their running game in motion, the Cougars marched down the field. Brady Rohrer and Nathan Pedigo had for a couple of first downs and junior quarterback Brock Bumpers passed to Pedigo for 17 yards to the Wortham 13 yards. Three plays later, Pedigo scored on a three-yard run and Taylor Evans tacked on the point after for the 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Bulldogs needed one play to take a lead. The high arching kick was covered near midfield and Wortham took over there. A toss to Tanner Bean made for an easy score for the Bulldogs. He followed the blocking and was never touched in a 51-yard touchdown run. He also added the conversion run and 8-7 lead.
The Cougars put their offense back on and their methodical drive took four minutes off the clock and it ended with them retaking the lead. Rohrer took the handoff on a seven-yard scoring run that was set up by a pass from Bumpers to Cannon Wise down inside the ten. The Evans extra point had the Cougars lead with 2:31 remaining in the first.
Wortham made quick work again and needed only three plays to take a lead they would hold onto for the remainder of the contest. Bean had a 28-yard run and finished with a 25-yard run and he also added the conversion run and the Wortham led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Cash Perez and Yancey Bean teamed up for a sack that caused a third and long and an eventual punt for the Cougars. Wortham worked on the passing attack on the drive and Ryken Lewis completed all three passes on the 68-yard drive. Bean scored on a two-yard run but the conversion run failed and the lead extended to 22-14.
The Bulldog defense made their presence known with sacks from Anthony Fortoul and Jason Evans. Trevor Carrington caught a 45-yard pass on the drive and Pedigo finished the drive with a two-yard run and cut the lead to 22-20.
Wortham lost a fumble on their next possession but the drive stalled and the Cougars had to punt. An 11-yard punt set the Bulldogs in good field position and Bean added his third touchdown of the game on a 55-yard run. Lewis added the conversion run and the Bulldogs led 30-20 at the half.
Leon took the second half kickoff and the Bulldog defense was beginning to take over the game. Yancey Bean tipped a Bumpers pass into the hands of Hernesto Reyes, who returned the interception 20 yards for the defensive touchdown. Bean added the run and the lead was 38-20.
The Cougars turned the ball over on a fumble recovered by Jon Ross Black and the Bulldogs took over at the Leon 38. A touchdown pass to Derek Bullard was called back on a holding penalty and personal foul that backed the Bulldogs into their end of the field. Another personal foul and a second holding penalty put the Wortham offense at a second and 62 from their own ten-yard line, and the Wortham offense had to punt.
Wortham Drum Major Breckyn Waggener leads the halftime performance.
Bumpers passed to Jose Carrizales for an 11-yard touchdown and cut the lead to 38-27.
Wortham needed their second one-play drive of the night to restore the lead. Bean took the toss and ran for 50 yards for the touchdown, his fourth of the game. The conversion run failed and the Bulldogs led 44-27.
Kymani Johnson caught a two-yard touchdown pass and Black added a 20-yard scoring reception to set the final score at 60-27.
The Wortham Bulldogs (3-0) returned home on Friday to battle the Blooming Grove Lion (3-0) at Bulldogs Stadium on Friday night.
Everyone please note the early start time of 7pm.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
