Robert Bridges, Democrat Reporter
October 24, 2006 05:33 pm
—
It was textbook Bulldogs. Fall behind by two scores, then come back and make it close. But this time the Dogs finished what they started, dominating the Bishop Kenny Crusaders in the second half Friday at Langford for a 21-17 District 3-3A win. And, more importantly, a shot at the district title. (See related story, this page.)
"We've been on the short end of these kinds of games a few times," said Head Coach Bobby Bennett. "This time it went our way."
Strong running and good second-half defense were the keys to the win. Jarrett Yulee led the Dogs with 105 yards rushing and a touchdown. Tajhuane Roundtree had 104 and a score. Brandon Allen gained 89 yards, Clay Kinard 11 and Brandon Cook five and a touchdown.
Roundtree was two of five passing for 44 yards. Gabe Galloway had one catch for 28 yards and John Hill another for 16.
But the Dogs won the game on defense. Bishop Kenny quarterback Mike Stukel, who already had nearly 1,000 yards rushing in seven games this season, was the problem coming in. Stukel was true to form for two quarters, gaining 103 yards on the ground and 59 in the air. Then the Dogs shut Stukel down, holding him to 24 yards rushing and 19 yards passing in the second half. Crusaders coach Mark Thorson said his team "didn't block" in the second half.
Justin Starling led the bulldogs with 14 tackles. Lee Laxton had 12 and Stephen Cherry 10.
The Sports Connection/WQHL players of the game, as selected by WQHL radio, were lineman Tom Cheek, linebacker Justin Starling and tight end Gabe Galloway.
As usual, things started badly for the Bulldogs. Bishop Kenny took the opening kick-off and drove 80 yards in just over three minutes for the early 7-0 lead.
Back came the Bulldogs. A 30-yard run by Yulee capped a nine-play 80-yard drive to pull within one at 4:06 of the first quarter. It wasn't clear he'd get in, but a slick move at the 10 left a Kenny defender reaching for air. The Cullen Boggus kick tied it at seven.
The Crusaders looked as if they would answer with ease. Within four plays Kenny was at the Suwannee 29. Stukel dropped back as if he would pass on the next play, then ran untouched into the end zone. But a holding call negated the score, and Kenny began to self-destruct.
From the Suwannee 19, another holding call pushed the Crusaders back to the Dogs’ 29. Consecutive flags for delay of game and false start backed Kenny up to the Bulldog 39.
Two plays later, Jason Cherry snagged a Stukel pass in the end zone, but pass interference against Suwannee gave the Crusaders another shot. Three plays later Stukel targeted Clay Roberts in the end zone, but a perfectly-timed Cherry hit knocked the ball loose and saved a touchdown. A field goal gave the Crusaders a 10-7 lead 10 minutes before the half.
Suwannee went four-and-out, then Kenny came back with a vengeance. The Crusaders took over on their own 45. Three plays later, Stukel took off up the middle untouched and ran 45 yards for the score.
Suwannee got to the Kenny 26 with four seconds left in the half, but a Roundtree pass fell incomplete. 17-7 Crusaders at the half.
The Bulldogs traded punts with the Crusaders to start the second half, then got to work on some second-half magic.
Following a Kenny punt late in the third, the Dogs took over at their own 12. From that point on Suwannee couldn't be stopped.
Runs by Yulee and Allen got the Dogs to the Suwannee 22. Then Allen broke free and sprinted to the Kenny 35. From there Roundtree hit Galloway at the five to set up the score. Allen fumbled at the goal line but Cook recovered in the end zone to make it 17-14 at 5:42 of the third.
The Dogs were just warming up on offense. Now the defense got hot. The Crusaders drove to their own 45 before Justin Starling, Lee Laxton, Bryne Allen and Marcus Walker ganged up on Stukel in the backfield to force third and 16. The Crusaders never seriously threatened again.
On the Dogs' next possession, Yulee, Allen and Roundtree divided the rushing chores about evenly in driving 60 yards in 10 plays for the go-ahead score. Roundtree's eight yard burst up the middle made it 21-17 with 7:45 remaining.
Bishop Kenny got one more shot. The Crusaders drove from the 18 to their own 47 before Starling and Cheek snuffed out the threat with a sack of Stukel.
Four minutes remained. Now all the Dogs had to do was kill some time.
The Bishop Kenny punt rolled dead at the Suwannee 11. Consecutive Roundtree runs got the Dogs a critical first down at the 21, and an unsportsmanlike conduct call added 15 to put the ball at the Suwannee 36.
Another run by Roundtree got the Dogs to the 48. It was the last first down they'd need. Two plays later Roundtree took a knee to end it.
The crowd roared, but the real excitement was on the field. The players were jumping and shouting and the coaches were locked in bear hugs.
"We've been a pretty good second-half team," Bennett said. "We had to make some plays, and we made them."
As for Stukel, Bennett had nothing but respect. "It's hard to duplicate an athlete of the caliber of number 10 on the scout team," he said. Bennett said halftime adjustments made the difference on defense, but also speculated that Stukel, who plays on both sides of the ball, might have been fatigued late in the game. "I think he has to get tired a little bit," Bennett said.
But not the Bulldogs. They've shown all season how tough they are in the late stages. If they're in it at halftime, they can win. Watch tomorrow night to see if they can keep it close against Jackson for at least the first two quarters.
Robert Bridges can be reached by calling 386-362-1734 ext. 134 or by e-mail at robert.bridges@gaflnews.com
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