Poised and focused: Bulldogs conquer Trojans 23-12
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The Bulldogs had a lot to play for Friday night. Not only was it homecoming, but also they soon found themselves down 0-6 in the first quarter. But head coach Rich Ferris said his team kept composed, and that mentality is what won the game 23-12 over the Troy Trojans.
“They were poised. It’s homecoming week, a tough week to stay focused, and you can tell because they made some mistakes early in the game,” Ferris said. “(But) they didn’t get down when down by six.”
In the first quarter, the Bulldogs didn’t start out strong. They dropped the ball and Troy’s Cody Orr picked it up and scored a touchdown on the 47-yard fumble return.
However, in the second quarter, the Bulldogs found their offensive momentum and scored a couple of touchdowns from Austin Durglo and Dylan Evans.
Troy tried to score just before the half, but Mission’s Russell Schultz and Nikko Alexander worked together to bring down the quarterback to end the second. The halftime score was 14-6.
And the break didn’t quell the Bulldogs’ momentum. Soon after the game resumed, the Bulldogs scored when Troy’s quarterback was tackled in the end zone, 16-6.
Then with 2:27 left in the third, the Bulldogs’ Evans scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run, and Josh Durglo added the kick to enter the fourth quarter 23-6.
The Trojans were held scoreless for two quarters until Troy’s Andrew Haggerty scored a touchdown from a 36-yard pass from Dave Hickman.
But the touchdown was too little, too late, as the Bulldogs went on to win 23-12.
Defensively, Austin Durglo had 22 tackles and one interception. Evans had 20 tackles and one interception. Alexander pulled down 21 tackles and caused one fumble. Fabian Camacho tallied 20 tackles and caused Troy to have two fumbles.
Offensively, Evans had 14 carries for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Durglo tallied 16 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown. Dylan Gun Hammer had 11 carries for 68 rushing yards and Scotty Gilleard had four carries for 11 yards. Evans also had nine passing attempts and four completions. Raymond Matt received the ball three times for 41 yards.
“Our offensive line did really well,” Ferris said. “I’m really proud and glad for the seniors that we got this win.”
The Bulldogs improve to 2-4 overall with the nonconference win over Troy. The Bulldogs travel to Deer Lodge on Friday.
T - Cody Orr 47 fumble return (kick failed)
SI - Austin Durglo 20 run (kick failed)
SI - Dylan Evans 1 run (Durglo run)
SI - Safety, quarterback tackled in end zone
SI - Evans 1 run (Durglo kick)
T - Andrew Haggerty 36 pass from Dave Hickman (run failed)
