This Week in Bulldog Athletics – Overtime

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟲: 𝟯𝟴-𝟭𝟰 𝘄𝗶𝗻

The matchup with Mt. Zion is always a conference game that is circled on the calendar. Often times, determining the team that will win the conference. The Bulldogs came into this game with a 2-0 conference record, and Mt. Zion was 1-1. A must-win for the Braves and an opportunity for the Bulldogs to control their conference destiny.

It was an amazing crowd in Mt. Zion who was hosting their homecoming game and wearing pink for breast cancer awareness month. Both home and visiting stands were at capacity, and the fence line was occupied by more fans standing to observe the game. The weather was perfect and not a factor, which was in stark contrast to Week 5.

It was the game of the week on CW 23, which aired the game live with a great broadcast. All the hype had come to a head, and it was time to get the show on the road.

The Bulldogs received the opening kick, but the drive never got going as the Bulldogs had a quick three and out. Mt. Zion did the same on their opening drive. After a poor kick, the Bulldogs had good field position. On second down of this drive, Luke Dyer connected with Gavin Hammerschmidt in double coverage, who squirted away for a 53-yard touchdown catch. After a successful Jackson Davis extra point, the Bulldogs were up 7-0 with 8:49 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldog defense forced a fourth down on the next Braves possession. On fourth and five, the Braves fake punted, but the Bulldog defense stayed disciplined and forced a turnover on downs.

Momentum all seem to be in favor of the Bulldogs. They were marching down the field ease with a steady diet of Hammerschmidt and Cade Ashby. However, the Bulldogs turned the ball over when the Braves poked the ball out of Ashby’s hands and recovered the football. The Braves offense started to gain some rhythm, but on fourth and one, the Bulldog defense slammed the door when Brock VanDeveer stuffed Brayden Tremble short of the first down marker. On the very next play for the Bulldog offense, Dyer found Ray Long for a 53-yard gain to put the Bulldogs in the redzone. Not longer after, Ashby punched it into the endzone, and with a perfect Davis extra point, the Bulldogs were up 14-0 with 1:06 left in the first quarter.

As the game headed into the second quarter, the Braves were finally starting to put a successful drive together. From the 16-yard line, the Braves were able to complete a pass to JC Anderson near the Bulldog 5-yard line. Anderson didn’t go down easy and was trying to muscle his way into the endzone, but a pack of Bulldogs attacked as he was going down. Brayden Garrett stripped the ball near the goal line to stop the Braves drive and give the ball back to the Bulldogs. From their own 3-yard line, Brock VanDeever got the Bulldog offense out to the 23-yard line on a 20-yard run. The very next play, VanDeveer ran the ball to the 46-yard line of Mt. Zion. The offense was making quick work of this drive, and on the next play, Dyer connected again with Ray Long within the 15-yard line. The Bulldogs relied on Ashby the rest of this drive, who punched it into the endzone for another Bulldog touchdown. After another successful Davis extra point, the Bulldogs were up 21-0 with 3:35 remaining in the first half.

The last 3:35 of the first half, the Bulldogs pinned their ears back. Jackson Davis kicked a successful onside kick right down the middle of the field that was recovered by Henry Wagner. The Bulldogs were looking to lay the hammer on the Braves. Dyer connected with Long again for a big gain to get the Bulldogs in the Red Zone. The Bulldogs were not able to reach the endzone but got points on the board when Jackson Davis drilled a 26-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 24-0 with 2:17 remaining in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Braves were unable to handle the squib kick, and the Bulldog Cody Moen recovered the football on the 28-yard line. The Bulldogs were in business with 2:13 left in the half to score again. Dyer escaped a near sack and scrambled out of the pocket looking for any open Bulldog. Mason Orton was in the middle of the endzone and recognized Dyer was in trouble. Dyer led Orton to the corner of the endzone with his throw. Orton was able to race the ball down and make a sensational diving catch for another Bulldog touchdown. Davis extra point was good. Bulldogs up 31-0, and that is how the first half would end. All Bulldogs!

In the second half, the Bulldogs were able to get in the endzone one more time in the fourth quarter with an Ashby rushing touchdown. Mt. Zion was able to put up 14 inconsequential points in the second half.

The offense, defense, and special teams all executed with precision. It was a total team effort that dominated the Braves.

The Bulldogs move to 4-2 on the season and 3-0 in the conference. An Effingham loss at Taylorville puts the Bulldogs alone at the top of the conference. Effingham is 2-1 in the conference, setting the stage for another big game on Friday when the Bulldogs travel to Effingham.

𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲

The Bulldog offense accumulated 403 total yards in this contest, with 263 yards coming in the air and 140 yards coming on the ground. Luke Dyer completed 12 of his 16 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

On the receiving end, Ray Long led total receiving yards with 122 yards on five receptions in his first game of the season. Gavin Hammerschmidt had four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Mason Orton ended with 28 yards and one touchdown. Orton leads active receivers in touchdowns on the season with four touchdowns.

On the ground, Cade Ashby was once again the workhorse, carrying the ball 24 times for 66 yards with three rushing touchdowns. Brock VanDeveer had six carries for 49 yards, including a couple of clutch runs, to get the Bulldog offense out of their own territory.

The offense was clicking, and it was all made possible by the excellent work of the O-Line. Much credit to them, as they were able to clean up a lot of penalties from the previous week.

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲

All the talk coming into this game was how the Bulldogs were going to stop the two Braves stars, JC Anderson and Brayden Tremble. The Bulldog defense once again stepped up and played with determination. They held Tremble to 44 rushing yards and only 39 receiving yards. Held JC Anderson to 29 yards receiving.

Cade Harrell had the tough assignment of manning up against Anderson. Harrell’s number was called for this task, and he rose to the challenge. Harrell was a menace all game and ended the game with four tackles.

The D-Line did an amazing job in this contest with consistent pressure on the quarterback. Their work resulted in the Bulldogs sacking the Braves quarterback three times. Noah Frank, Beau Back, and Jayvon Tompkins each had sacks.

Brock VanDeveer, Ethan Esker, and Jayvon Tompkins all led the Bulldogs in tackles with six apiece. Noah Frank and Beau Back ended with five tackles apiece.

Brayden Garrett had the high impact play on defense when he stripped the ball from Anderson on the goal line in the second quarter to preserve the Bulldogs lead at 14-0 at the time.

Just an all-around tenacious effort by the entire Bulldog defense.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀

Jackson Davis was once again perfect on extra points with five. He also added a 26-yard field goal. If that wasn’t enough, he has been clutch on kickoffs this season and had another successful onside kick that was recovered by the Bulldogs.

Henry Wagner successfully recovered the onside kick. On a squib kick, Cody Moen was able to jump on the ball after it couldn’t be handled by the Braves.

Strong offense, strong defense, and special teams had the dagger.

Only two conference games left in the season, and the Bulldogs are in first place with a 3-0 record. They travel to Effingham on Friday to face the Hearts, who stand in second place with a 2-1 conference record. Let’s have a good showing from Bulldog Nation in Effingham as we did in Mt. Zion. Wear orange!

Go Bulldogs!