Bulldogs tame Stockton Tigers

The El Dorado Springs Bulldogs opened the 2017 football season in exciting fashion by defeating the Stockton Tigers 50-18, the largest margin of victory in the series since the two schools began playing for Cedar County Bowl traveling trophy.

Stockton began the evening on offense and went on a 10-play, 96-yard drive to take a 6-0 lead. The PAT was blocked by Keilan Jaques.

On the ensuing kickoff, Colton Collins returned the ball 36 yards to the ElDo 49-yard line. On the first offensive play of the 2017 season for the Bulldogs, Trenton Hardie took the ball 10-yards up the field. Two plays later, Jake Schieffer carried the ball 34-yards down to the Stockton 1-yard line where Hardie punched in the touchdown. Trey Babcock added the 2-point conversion to put ElDo up 8-6.

The Bulldogs then forced Stockton into a 3-and-out and the Tigers punted the ball to the ElDo 9-yard line. The Bulldogs went on a 12-play drive that chewed up the rest of the first quarter and was highlighted by a 28-yard Tanner Witt run and later a 3-yard plunge into the endzone by Witt. Hardie added the 2-point conversion to put ElDo up 16-6.

Stockton’s first drive of the second quarter lasted 12 plays before again being forced to punt. Schieffer fielded the punt at the Bulldog’s own 6-yard line and returned it to the ElDo 14. On the first play of the drive, Hardie ran the ball 71 yards down the field before finally being taken down. On the next play, Babcock threw a pass to Shelby McKinney who made a leaping catch in the endzone to put the Bulldogs up 22-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Babcock executed a perfect onside kick that he was able to recover himself. Eleven plays later, Hardie made his way into the endzone again to give ElDo the 28-6 lead, which is how the half would end.

The Tigers kicked off to ElDo to open the second half of play and Collins fielded the ball at his own 14-yard line before finding some space and dashing 86 yards down the field before a holding call cancelled his touchdown. Not allowing themselves to become discouraged, the Bulldogs marched down the field in 8 plays where Hardie broke free from 48-yards out to score his 3rd touchdown of the evening. Babcock added the 2-point conversion to put the Bulldogs up 36-6.

Stockton went on a 10-play drive that saw the Tigers score and bring the game to 36-12.

On the next ElDo drive, it only took three plays before Collins ran 37 yards into the endzone but another holding call on the Bulldogs again took a touchdown away from Collins.

On the next play, Witt ran the ball into the endzone from 49 yards out, with Collins adding the 2-point conversion to give ElDo the 44-12 lead, ending the 3rd quarter.

The Tigers would end up in the endzone on their next drive to make it a 44-18 game but the Bulldogs answered back with a 7-play drive that was capped off by a 24-yard scoring run by Schieffer to put the Bulldogs up 50-18.

ElDo would then sub multiple kids in the game as the Bulldogs recaptured the Cedar County Bowl trophy.

Head Coach Coach Derek Scroggins said, “I was very pleased with how our boys played tonight. We played a clean game, with only three penalties. Unfortunately for Colton Collins, two of those penalties were holding calls that negated touchdowns for him but I was proud that we didn’t get discouraged on those and managed to score on every drive of the game until we subbed multiple kids out. I thought our offensive line did a great job opening holes all night and I believe we set the tone physically. Defensively, I felt our boys did a great job of gang tackling and playing hard-nosed football. We have some things to fine tune but I am incredibly encouraged about what we can achieve this year if our boys keep improving while maintaining their effort and attitude that they showed tonight.”

The Bulldogs finished the evening with 461 yards of rushing on 47 carries led by Trenton Hardie, 169 yards on 13 carries, and Tanner Witt, 136 yards on 11 carries. Jake Schieffer chipped in with 87 yards on 9 carries, while Trey Babcock ran the ball 7 times for 47 yards while also completing both attempted passes for 19 yards. Defensively, Dakota Long led the way with 10 tackles, while Blake Holder and Schieffer each added 8 tackles.

The Bulldogs (1-0) next travel to Class 3 Pembroke Hill (1-0) next Friday night.

LET’S DANCE – Dylan Gallette and Jake Schieffer get ready to corral the Stockton player, Jake Wheeler.

HEMMED IN – Trenton Hardie runs the ball in a crowd.

BEHIND A BULLDOG WALL – Jake Schieffer makes good use of the running room his teammates provided.

YA DONE GOOD – Head Coach Derek Scroggins addresses the team congratulating them on their victory.

KEEPING HIS WITTS ABOUT HIM – Tanner Witt got loose for a TD leaving all the Stockton Tigers out of sight.