Bulldogs get region win over Panthers, 51-12

The Sweet Water Bulldogs used big second and third quarters to defeat the Marengo Panthers on Friday night. After scoring only six points in the first quarter, the Dawgs used a 25-point second quarter to take a 31-6 lead at the half. Then, the Dawgs added another 20 points in the third to take a 51-6 lead. The Panthers managed another touchdown in the fourth quarter for the final score of 51-12.

After receiving the opening kick, the Bulldogs’ first possession of the game lasted almost six minutes but came to an end on a failed fourth down conversion attempt at the Panther 37-yard line. The Bulldog defense held the Panthers for three plays and blocked a punt and recovered at the Panther 29-yard line.

Jaland Lewis Horton got the Dawgs on the board at the 3:22 mark of the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed and Sweet Water held a 6-0 lead.

Following a Panther punt, Trent Smith crossed the goal line on a 13-yard touchdown run for the Dawgs. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Bulldogs led the Panthers 12-0 with 11:47 to go in the second quarter.

Lewis-Horton notched his second touchdown of the contest at the 10:54 mark of the second quarter. The 11-yard run and PAT kick by Walker Thompson gave the Dawgs a 19-0 lead.

The Panthers got on the board with 6:19 to go in the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Almonte’ Lewis to J”Quell Crispin. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the Panthers closed the Bulldog lead to 19-6.

The ensuing Bulldog possession ended with a punt. However, the Dawgs recovered a Panther fumble with 2:25 to go in the first half. The Dawgs cashed in with a 6-yard run by Lewis-Horton with 52 seconds to go. A failed 2-point conversion left the Bulldog lead at 25-6.

The Panthers fumbled the ensuing kick and the Dawgs made the recovery at the Panthers’ 23-yard line. Lewis-Horton notched his fourth touchdown of the half on an 2-yard run with 29 seconds remaining. The PAT was unsuccessful, but the Dawgs held a 31-6 lead when the half ended.

The Panthers received the opening second half kick, but fumbled on the first play of the possession. Deshanard Blanks recovered the fumble at the Patherns 24-yard line. Two plays later, Thompson got into the end zone on an 11-yard run. Thompson tacked on the PAT, giving the Dawgs a 38-6 lead with 11:43 to go in the third quarter.

Marengo’s ensuing possession ended with an interception by Sweet Water’s Timothy Kelly. Thompson cashed in for his second touchdown on a 3-yard run with 6:49 to go in the third quarter. Another failed PAT kick left the Dawgs with a 44-6 lead.

The Panthers’ next drive ended when Michael Alan Cole recovered a fumble at the Panthers’ 39-yard line. Elliot Lucy picked up the Dawgs last touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run with 2:55 to go in the third quarter. Lewis-Horton tacked on the kick, giving Sweet Water a 51-6 lead over the Panthers.

The final score of the night came on a 40-yard touchdown pass when Marengo’s Lewis connected with Ke’Vontre Williams at the 11:32 mark of the fourth quarter. The 2-point try was unsuccessful, giving the final score of 51-12 in favor of the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs rolled up 371 yards of total offense, with 313 yards coming on 45 rushes. The Panthers tallied 75 yards of total offense.

Lewis-Horton lead all rushers with 112 yards on 16 carries and totaled 4 touchdowns. Lashon Young had 74 yards on eight carries. Thompson had three touchdowns on six carries and totaled 62 yards. Caleb Dixon had 3 carries for 33 yards. Delvontae Lucy had 16 yards on three carries. Elliot Lucy had four carries for 11 yards and a touchdown. Smith had two carries for 9 yards, one of which was a touchdown. Thompson totaled 58 yards passing on three completions. Young, Kelly and Jake Schroeder each had one catch for 24, 23 and 11 yards, respectively.

Lewis led the Panthers with 24 yards rushing on 11 carries and added 55 yards and a touchdown on two pass completions. Williams had one touchdown reception for 40 yards and Crispin had one touchdown reception for 15 yards.