Huskers handle Bulldogs

by Head Football Coach Derek Scroggins

The El Dorado Springs Bulldogs traveled to Higginsville on Friday night where the #5 ranked Lafayette County Huskers won in a 42-6 ballgame.

The Bulldogs began the night kicking off to Lafayette County where the Husker returner caught the ball at his own 25-yard line and ran the ball 75 yards for a touchdown taking a 7-0 lead.

ElDo was forced to punt on their first drive and on the punt, Tanner Witt forced the Husker returner to fumble the ball while Wyatt Graves recovered the ball giving the Bulldogs possession once again. Two plays later, El Dorado Springs fumbled the ball away allowing Lafayette County to recover the ball. The Huskers would cover the needed 52 yards on a two play drive making the score 14-0.

On the first play of the next Bulldog drive Cade Whitesell dashed 37 yards downfield on the first play but the drive was ended as the Bulldogs again fumbled away possession. Neither team managed to move the ball the rest of the first quarter, which ended with Lafayette County up 14-0.

To open the second quarter, the Huskers marched 56 yards down the field to take a 20-0 lead. The Bulldogs struggled to sustain a drive in the second quarter while Lafayette County added two more touchdowns to take a 35-0 halftime lead.

Opening the second half, the Bulldogs began on offense but the drive was cut short as ElDo fumbled the snap on the first play and the Huskers recovered possession. Two plays later, the Huskers traveled 37 yards and took a 42-0 lead. Both teams struggled to move the ball for the remainder of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, both teams brought in their JV squads. The Bulldogs forced the Huskers to punt and then the offense marched 70 yards downfield where Isaak Shadden capped off the 9-play drive with a touchdown from 6 yards out to bring the score to 42-6, which is how the game ended.

Coach Scroggins said, “We ran into a quality team tonight in Lafayette County. Starting tonight with poor coverage on our kickoff put us in a hole early and then we turned the ball over four times, where we had one turnover on the year coming into tonight. The Huskers were able to capitalize on our mistakes and we have to tip our hat to them. One of the positives from tonight was getting some of our JV kids time in a varsity game and I was really encouraged with their effort out there. They played unafraid and managed to get us on the scoreboard.”

The Bulldogs (1-3) next travel to Slater (1-3) on Friday night.

On offense, the Bulldogs rushed 37 times for 153 yards and one TD. Trey Babcock attempted six passes with no completions and one interception. Colten Collins attempted one pass.

Trenton Hardie carried seven times for nine yards. Tanner Witt ran the ball 10 times for 39 yards. Jake Schieffer rushed three times for five yards. Cade Whitesell carried twice for 37 yards. Isaak Shadden rushed twice for 23 yards and scored the Bulldogs only points – a 6-point TD. Gaven Morgan ran the ball twice for six yards. Taylor Wingert carried twice for 13 yards. Deegan Brake ran the ball once for five yards.

On defense, Trey Babcock made 10 tackles 2.5 of them for a loss (TFL). Dakota Long made 11 tackles. Colton Collins was in on two tackles. Dylan Gallette made two tackles. Wyatt Graves recovered a fumble and made two tackles. Blake Holder made six tackles including one sack and half a TFL. Brayden Housh made one tackle. Keilan Jaques made three tackles, one of them a sack and 1.5 TFLs. Dagan McIntire made two tackles as did Shelby McKinney. Kaleb Raff made two tackles one of them half a sack. Gavin Reed made five tackles, one of them half a sack. Jake Schieffer made 10 tackles and deflected a pass. Tanner Witt made two tackles and forced a fumble.

BIG DOGS ON THE HUNT – Two vicious Bulldogs have drawn a bead on the Lafayette County ball carrier – Blake Holder, No. 52, ended the night with six tackles, half a TFL (tackle for loss) and a sack; Dakota Long, No. 18, made 11 tackles. It looks like Dagan McIntire, No. 60. is flushing out the runner so his teammates can get him. Contributed photo.