El Dorado Springs hosted Versailles for the opening round of districts and came up a little short, falling to the Tigers 34-29.

El Dorado Springs opened the game on offense from their own 35-yard line after the Versailles kick went out of bounds.

On the first play of the game, Tanner Witt broke free for an 18-yard gain. Six plays later, Jake Schieffer made his way into the end zone for the first points of the night. Trey Babcock added the two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead.

On Versailles first drive, the Tigers opted to use a gimmick offense with only three linemen, the quarterback and a running back in the middle of the field, two linemen, a tight end and a receiver on the far right of the field and a tight end and receiver on the far left of the field. Versailles gained 17 yards on their first play out of this formation but the Bulldogs quickly adjusted and stopped the Tigers for two plays of no-gain and a loss of seven, forcing Versailles to punt.

The Bulldogs took over at their own 35 for their second possession. Nine plays later, Witt broke free from 34 yards out for a touchdown. Keilan Jaques added the two-point conversion to put ElDo up 16-0.

On Versailles’ next drive, the Tigers lined up in a more traditional formation and managed to score in three plays to cut the ElDo lead to 16-8.

The Bulldogs failed to get things working on their next offensive drive and turned the ball over on downs as the first quarter came to a close.

In the second quarter, Versailles again scored on their 3rd play of their drive and tied the game up at 18-18.

Next, the Bulldogs used a 6-play drive that was highlighted by a Trenton Hardie 29-yard run and finished with a Schieffer touchdown from five yards out to give the Bulldogs a 22-16 lead.

Versailles responded with an 11-play drive to again tie the game at 22-22 with 3:30 left in the first half.

On the second play of the Bulldogs drive, Witt ran 34 yards downfield to the Versailles 16-yard line. On 2nd and 5, an offensive miscue cost the Bulldogs a 1-yard loss. On 3rd and 6, Babcock scrambled and found Shelby McKinney near the goal line but a good defensive play by the Tigers managed to break the pass up setting up 4th and 6. Hardie ran the ball on the next play but came up a half yard short turning the ball over on downs.

Shortly after, the half came to a close with the score tied.

Versailles offense began the second half with the ball and drove the ball 21 yards before turning the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs put together a similar drive as they ran eight plays before turning the ball over on downs.

On the ensuing Versailles drive, the Tigers appeared to have a 36-yard pass but a holding call negated the play and two plays later the Tigers were forced to punt.

The Bulldogs then went on an 8 play drive and attempted a field goal on 4th and 19 from their own 28-yard line but the kick was no good and the third came to an end with the game still tied.

Versailles opened the 4th quarter with an 8-play, 80-yard drive and took a 28-22 lead. On the 4th play of the next ElDo drive, Schieffer broke free from 57-yards out and ran untouched into the end zone to tie the game at 28. Brayden Housh kicked the PAT to give ElDo the 29-28 lead with 7:22 left in the game. Versailles then went on a 14-play drive that covered 65 yards to take a 34-29 lead with 1:12 remaining in the game.

The Bulldog offense took over at their own 35-yard line. After grinding out a first down, Babcock hit Dylan Gallette for a 20-yard pass that brought the ball to the Versailles 35. Four plays later, Babcock found McKinney for a 15-yard pass down to the 5-yard line but the ball got knocked loose and went forward out of bounds resulting in a 5-yard penalty.

As the officials marked off the penalty and the clock, which showed 1.9 seconds left, set to begin as soon as the ball was set, the Bulldogs got off one more play but the Bulldogs failed to get into the end zone.

With the loss, the Bulldogs’ season ended with a 5-5 record.

Coach Derek Scroggins said, “I’m proud of how our players battled week in and week out. Their fighting spirit kept us in each game and I think that is a testament to how hard they have worked all year long. We have great kids here and I believe the foundation has been set for us to build on next year as we take another step in the right direction.”

On the stat sheet, on offense, Trenton Hardie carried the ball 20 times gaining134 yards. Tanner Witt rushed 11 times for 115 yards and one TD. Jake Schieffere carried eight time for 93 yards and three TDs. Trey Babcock ran five times for 16 yards and a two point conversion. Keilan Jaques rushed three times for 11 yards and a two point conversion. Cade Whitesell carried once for two yards.

Trey Babcock attempted eight passes and completed four for 53 yards. Jake Schieffer caught one for four yards. Shelby McKinney caught two for 29 yards. Dylan Gallette caught one for 20 yards.

On defense (in alphabetical order) Trey

Babcock made eight tackles. Anthony Boyer had one as did Clayton Collins, Jordan Gallette and Brayden Housh who deflected a pass. Colton Colllins made three tackles. Dylan Gallette had seven tackles, one of them a sack. Wyatt Graves made six tackles, one of them a TFL (tackle for a loss). Blake Holder had 10 tackles. Keilan spent some quality time in the Versialles backfield sacking the ball carriers twice in his 11 tackles. Dakota Long made eight tackles. Dagan McIntire registered four tackles, one of them a sack. Shelby McKinney had eight tackles. Gaven Morgan and Preston Robison each made two tackles. Jake Schieffer had six tackles. Lance Smith made two. Cade Whitesell had one. Tanner Witt made three tackles.

Next week, stats for the season.

IN THE GRASP – Jake Schieffer struggles for more yards as the Versailles defender tries to take him to the ground. Jake rushed eight times for 93 yeards and three TDs.

QUARTERBACK KEEPER- Bulldog quarterback Trey Babcock waltzed into the south end zone on a quarterback keeper for a two point conversion. He ran the ball five times for 16 yards and this two pointer.

 

BREAK AWAY- In the first half of the Bulldogs district playoff game with Versailles on the home field. Junior Tanner Witt got through their defensive line and raced 34 yards for a touchdown. Tanner had 115 yards on the night.

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