Bulldogs best Panthers in South Marengo rivalry, 35-8
It took Sweet Water a little over eight minutes to get rolling, but they never looked back once they had the lead over the Marengo Panthers. The Dawgs put 35 points on the board before the Panthers returned an interception for a touchdown and 2-point conversion with a little over a minute to go in the game for a final score of 35-8.
The Bulldogs’ Jaland Lewis Horton collected his first touchdown of the night at the 3:44 mark of the first quarter on a 2-yard run. The PAT failed and the Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead.
Following a Panther punt on their ensuing possession, Walker Thompson connected with Jaden Lewis for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Thompson hit Horton for the 2-point conversion and the Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead over the Panthers with 56 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Horton notched his second touchdown on a 39-yard run with 9:23 to go in the second quarter. Michael Alan Cole’s PAT increased the Bulldog lead to 21-0.
The Panthers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the recovery was made by Sweet Water’s Devonte Blanks at the Panther 34-yard line. On the following play, Thompson connected with Lashon Young who crossed the goal line for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 9:00 remaining in the first half. Cole’s PAT was good and the Dawgs took a 28-0 lead over the Panthers. Neither team would score for the remaining nine minutes and the half would end with that score.
The third quarter almost expired with no scoring, but Horton added his third and final touchdown of the night on a 30-yard run with 59 seconds to go. Cole’s PAT was successful, giving the Bulldogs a 35-0 lead over the Panthers.
The Panthers finally got on the board with 1:11 to go in the game, when they picked off a Bulldog pass and returned it for a touchdown. The Panthers converted the 2-point conversion for what would be the final score of 35-8.
Thompson hit two of his three passes for 74 yards, with both completions going for touchdowns. Horton had 19 carries for 149 yards on the night. Lewis and Young had one catch each for 40 and 34 yards, respectively. Each catch resulted in a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0) will host Fruitdale next week. The Panthers (0-1, 0-1) are scheduled to host Southern Choctaw.