The Wortham Bulldogs built a 28-0 lead through three quarters and made the lead hold up for a home opening with for the fifth consecutive year 28-14 over the Kerens Bobcats Friday night behind the walls of historic Bulldog Stadium.
The Wortham offense comes into the season having to replace several holes in the lineup with the loss of some key players to graduation.
They controlled the line of scrimmage for the beginning and earned stops on defense and showed a glimmer of confidence for the upcoming season.
The Bulldogs took the ball on offense and marched to the Kerens 21-yard line in nine plays before turning the ball over on downs. Kerens took over and the Wortham defense forced a fourth and short and the Bobcat offense stayed on the field. Nehemiah Massey took the handoff and was immediately stopped by Trent and Ty Carroll and the Bulldogs took the ball back.
With great field position, the Wortham Bulldogs need three plays to travel 31 yards. Cash Perez, the tight end turned fullback, took the ball and pushed the pile into the endzone for the touchdown. The conversion run was no good and the Bulldogs led 6-0.
After a Kerens punt in the first quarter, the Wortham offense took the field and took the remainder of the quarter and finished well into the second. The drive consumed 13 plays and 71 yards and sophomore running back Evan McCoslin scored on a four-yard run to extend the lead.
The conversion run failed, and the Bulldog lead stood at 12-0.
Wortham forced another three and out to force a punt and the Bulldogs went back to work, forcing their will on the game. Beginning at their own 20, the Wortham offense needed 11 plays to score. Junior quarterback Jon Ross Black orchestrated the offense and completed a 30-yard pass to Yancey Bean, and he would finish the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Black passed to Jesse Saldana for the conversion and the Bulldogs were dominating the game with a 20-0 lead.
The Bulldogs forced a punt in the opening possession of the second half and returned the workforce offense to produce on a hot evening in the young season. The ten-play drive covered 64 yards and Bean finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs would convert a third down on the touchdown and a fourth down earlier in the drive. Perez ran in the conversion and the Bulldogs held a huge 28-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Wortham defense continued to dominate but after the punt, the Wortham offense sputtered, and Kerens took over at midfield. Kerens put together a good drive and Massey scored on a one yard run to cut into the Bulldog lead 28-7.
The Bulldogs had a three and out and a low snap put the Bobcats on the field with a first down at the Bulldog 20. Three plays later Hunter Crawford caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Lane Solis and the lead shrunk to 28-14.
Wortham continued to struggle on offense in the late stages of the game and had to punt. The Wortham Bulldog had a large lead and the defense faced one final challenge and they stopped the Bobcats on fourth down and the Bulldogs preserved the 28-14 win.
The Wortham Bulldogs won the opener for the fifth straight year and will return back to Bulldog Stadium to face the Rosebud-Lott Cougars on Thursday. The game has been moved up a day due to an official shortage and it will be a 7pm kickoff on Thursday. The Cougars fell in overtime 27-21 to the Leon Cougars on Friday.
(Photos by Jennifer Lansford)
