Marlin ISD

Bulldog Rally Falls One Point Short

Last week the Bulldogs were awesome in the first half and then fell asleep in the second half. This week it was just the opposite.

When the Panthers of Midway and the Bulldogs of Marlin meet on the field you can usually expect a thrilling game. We all remember last year when the Dogs were down big at Midway and came back to tie the game 20-20 and force OT where Daniel Ronquillo kicked a field goal giving the Big Dog Jerry mMalone his first win over the Panthers. Well this past Friday nights game also went down to the wire. BUT this time it wasn't meant to be as a missed extra point with 10 seconds left the Dogs one point short of OT and the Panthers prevailed 27-26.

The Panthers jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead in the first quarter. Running back Josh Neeper got the scoring started for the Panthers with a 61-yard scamper down the far sideline. The las 20 yards, Neeper was limping a little with a pulled hamstring and he didn't return to the game.

The Bulldogs fumbled the ensuing kickoff (they fumbled six times in the game) putting the Panthers in good starting position at the marlin 34-yard line. But the Dog defense rose up and held the Panthers on downs. But another Bulldog turnover was costly as the Panthers added to their lead with 7:32 remaining in the first quarter.. Victor Duffy who replaced the injured Neeper, ran right up the middle untouched for 49 yards and a score. The try for two failed but the Panthers were up 12-0 in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs finally got their offense going on the next possession. Starting at their own 29-yard line they went on a 9 play drive behind the passing arm of sophomore QB Jeremy Sanders. Sanders had another spectacular game hitting 10 of 14 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. His first came on this drive as he hit James Giddings with a 27-yard scoring strike. With 4:04 left in the quarter. The extra point by Hugo Gonzales was no good but the Dogs cut the lead in half at 12-6.

Moving to the second quarter the Panthers scored again off another Bulldog fumble. Panther John Cawthorn fell on the loose ball after the punt on the marlin 21-yard line. From there QB Wesley Sauls hit Rashad Bible with an 11-yard touchdown pass to stretch the lead to 19-6 as we headed to the half.

The third quarter started great for the Dogs. At their own 39-yard line a quick handoff to Mark Jimenez and off and running Mark went, shedding would-be tacklers and following excellent down field blocking by Cody Malone, he was finally pulled down after a gain of 54 yards. But once again a turnover - "Fumbleitist" and the Panthers took over deep in their own territory. The Bulldog defense hung tough and forced a Panther miscue resulting in a safety to make it 8-19 Panthers.

And the Dogs weren't through yet. After taking over after a short punt Sanders threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Anthony Simms and then came back on their next possession and hit Red Richardson on a 55-yard scoring pass and just like that the Dogs had taken the lead at 20-19 as the third quarter ended.

Both teams traded possessions as the clock continued to count down. With 5:16 to play and the Dogs driving, yet another fumble turned out to be costly. With 5:08 to play the Panthers began a drive. Facing a big 4th and three inside the Dog 30 the Panthers called a time out. When play resumed QB Sauls scrambled for 11 yards and with just under two minutes to play in the game Duffy scored from two yards out to give the Panthers a five point lead at 25-20. The Panthers knew they had to go for two to get that 7-point advantage and once more they went to Duffy and scored to make it 27-20 Panthers.

The Dogs would not quit. With less than two minutes to play they mounted a beautiful drive. Using the sidelines on passes and their time outs to perfection the Dogs went 71 yards that ended with Sanders scoring from five yards out with 10 seconds to play. Oh what a drive and it looked like we were headed for another OT. However, this time it was not to be as Gonzales' extra point try just missed going through the uprights and Midway prevailed 27-26.

So the Bulldogs now sit at 0-2 and will face another group of Panthers this Friday night as 2-0 Mart comes to visit Legion Field. Mart scored with 1:31 remaining in their game to beat Groesbeck on Friday night 14-7.

Should be a good one - See you at the game…..

Marlin ISD
Created August 26, 1997 -- last revision October, 2003
Please mail comments or suggestions to tsimpson@marlinisd.org

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