63-7 win
In the final regular season home game of the 2024 campaign, the Bulldogs welcomed the Green Wave from Mattoon. It was Senior Night, which is always a special time for Bulldog Football. As the seniors were celebrated, it was also a coronation of the Bulldogs capturing their 4th straight Apollo Conference Championship while going undefeated in conference play during this four-year stretch, which is also a new school record.
The excitement and emotions of the Senior Night introductions concluded, and the Bulldogs were looking to jump out the gate with a strong start. On the first play, Trey Peters lined up at wideout, and Luke Dyer took a knee. It was an honorable thing to get Trey Peters one last snap on the field. Peters had a season-ending knee injury, and it was great that the team found a way to honor him.
The only blemish of the night was on the Bulldogs opening drive that was cut short on a Dyer pass that was tipped and intercepted by Mattoon. The Bulldog defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs on the Mattoon drive. The Bulldog offense was chipping away down the field until Dyer found Ray Long on a 48-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs on the board first.
A three-and-out on the next Matton possession gave the ball back to the Bulldogs. On the third play of this drive for the Bulldogs, Dyer found Mason Orton, who made a sensational catch that gained 55 yards and put the Bulldogs inside the Mattoon 10-yard line. From there, Dyer quickly found Gavin Hammerschmidt for the Bulldogs second touchdown. Bulldogs up 14-0.
The Green Wave was able to put together a positive drive that got them into the red zone. However, the Bulldog defense forced another turnover on downs to give the ball back to the Bulldog offense. Wade Manuel had two great catches on this drive that kept the offense rolling. From the 25-yard line, Dyer found Orton on an inside bubble screen, who then ran and muscled down to the two-yard line. On the next play, Dyer had a touch-pass to Orton, who found the endzone. Bulldogs up 21-0.
Jackson Davis then delivered an onside kick that was recovered by Henry Wagner. Bulldogs again with the ball and wasted no time getting down to the goal line, where Dyer punched it in the endzone with a QB sneak. Bulldogs up 28-0 with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs were up 28-0.
The second quarter was no different. The offense continued to pour it on, and the defense held the Green Wave scoreless. The four touchdowns in this second quarter came off a rushing touchdown by Brock VanDeveer, a 43-yard touchdown reception by Ray Long, a 54-yard touchdown reception by Ray Long, and a rushing touchdown by Ethan Esker. Also in the second quarter, Hughey Allen forced a fumble that was recovered by Henry Wagner. The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 56-0 lead.
In the second half, the starters did not see the field, and it was an all-run offense. Cody Moen hauled the mail in the second half on the ground for the Bulldogs and accumulated 67 rushing yards. The Bulldogs were held scoreless in the third quarter, and Mattoon was able to find the end zone. At the end of three quarters, the Bulldogs were up 56-7.
The Bulldogs were able to find the endzone the final time on a Channing Byers 3-yard rushing touchdown.
When the horn sounded, the Bulldogs were 63-7 winners. Shortly thereafter, the seniors took their final walk up and down the field with Coach Adkins while Kenny Chesney’s Boys of Fall played from the speakers. Always emotional and a very nice tribute for the seniors and their parents.
The celebration wasn’t over just yet. The Bulldogs were presented the Apollo Conference Champions plaque. The Bulldogs dominated the conference this season, going 5-0 with an average margin of victory of 41 points in conference play.
Offense
The Bulldog offense scored early and often scoring eight of their nine touchdowns in the first half. The Bulldogs had 546 offensive yards, with 313 passing yards and 233 rushing yards. The Bulldogs were 5/9 on third down conversions and 2/2 on fourth down conversions.
Quarterback Luke Dyer was 13/16 (81%) passing with 313 yards and five passing touchdowns. Dyer also added 15 yards rushing with a rushing touchdown. He did have one interception on the night.
Dyers favorite target was Ray Long, who ended with 145 yards and three touchdowns. Mason Orton had some big receptions in the first half and ended with 80 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Hammerschmidt also had a receiving touchdown.
On the ground, Cade Ashby led the way with 79 rushing yards. Bryson Tiefenthaler added 67 rushing yards in an all-run offense in the second half.
Brock VanDeveer added 35 yards rushing with a touchdown. Channing Byers and Ethan Esker also added rushing touchdowns.
The O-line was once again solid and a big part of high-powered offense on this night.
Defense
The Bulldog defense was once again relentless and stingy on allowing points. The Bulldogs shutout the Green Wave in the first half. On the game, they held Mattoon to 184 total yards of offense.
Ethan Esker led the team in tackles with seven. Henry Wagner continues to be a menace on defense, as he ended the night with four tackles and also had a fumble recovery.
Brock VanDeveer, Connor Wilson, AJ Demos, Jack Jessup, Noah Scott, Hayden Hart, and Clayton Crowley combined for 14 of the teams 33 tackles.
The D-Line has proven once again to be a gamechanger. Their continued disruption in the trenches and forcing the quarterback out of the pocket is fun to watch.
Special Teams
Jackson Davis was once again perfect on his nine extra-point attempts. Davis is 46-49 on extra-point attempts this season and extends his record-breaking streak of consecutive conversions to 33. For the second time this season, Davis has tied the school record with nine successful extra-point conversions in a game. He is currently 13 extra point conversions away from tying the school record of 59 extra point conversions in a season. Kyle Walmer holds that record from the 2022 season. Davis also had a successful onside kick in this contest.
School History
This is the fourth straight Apollo Conference title for the Bulldogs. This is the first time in school history the program has won four straight conference titles with no conference losses in each of those four years.
Over the past four seasons, the Bulldogs have put up a 21-0 record in conference play. In fact, their last conference loss was in March 2021.
This season in conference play, the Bulldogs have outscored their Apollo opponents by 204 points. On a per-game average, the Bulldogs have put 47 points on the board and only allowed 6 points, with an average margin of victory of 41 points in conference play. 234 total points scored to only a total of 30 points against.
The Bulldogs (6-2) will travel to Peoria Richwoods next Friday in the final regular season game.
Go Bulldogs!
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