WP Skims Past Dayton In Rivalry Game

WAITSBURG -- The WP Cardinals held off the Dayton Bulldogs in an oldfashioned duke 'em out high school rival football game and remains undefeated for the season, 5-0.

The Bulldogs came out pumped up and ready to play and wasted no time lighting up the board.

The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff and began its drive on its own 35-yard line. After earning a first down that took them to the 44-yard line, quarterback Colton Bickelhaupt broke tackles and weaved through Cardinal defenders all the way to the WP 11-yard line.

The Cardinal defense held strong until 4th and 7 when Hayden Fullerton connected with Wyatt Frame in the end zone. The Bulldogs missed its extra point attempt and would have to settle for 6-0.

The Cardinals started its opening drive from its own 35-yard line on the ground. Quarterback Zach Bartlow was denied any yardage on his first carry and the Cardinals were forced to punt on 4th and 4 from its own 41- yard line.

The Bulldogs went to the air on the next drive and although their hunger for the end zone was fierce they were soon shut down when Bickelhaupt was intercepted by Bartlow and returned it to the Cardinal 49-yard line.

The Cardinals slowly worked its way to the Dayton 38-yard line to face 4th and 1. The Bulldogs were called for encroachment and the Cardinals stayed alive with 1st and 10 on the Bulldog 25 yard line.

The Bulldog defense was tight as it shut down the Cardinals' running game, but Bartlow went to the air and found Devin Acevedo for a 13-yard gain before the first quarter buzzer blew.

The Cardinals continued to plug away on the ground, but after a recovered fumble and an incomplete pass on 4th and 4, the Bulldogs took over on downs on its own 19-yard line .

The Cardinal defense was looking to take the bark out of the Bulldogs and held the team deep in its own territory, forcing the team to punt after Wyatt Frame couldn't snag a Bickelhaupt bomb.

From its own 37-yard line, the Cardinals just couldn't find their wings and took a turn with punting special teams and sent the ball back to the dogs with 7:55 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs would remain deep in its own territory after Cardinal Greg Stearns bulldozed Bickelhaupt back for a loss of four and the Bulldogs punted once again.

With 4:13 left in the half, Bartlow fumbled the snap and the Bulldogs recovered on its own 30-yard line.

After just three plays and 8 yards of offense, it was time for the Bulldogs to punt again.

Nearly two minutes remained, but a Cardinal holding call and an incomplete pass ended any hopes of a first half Cardinal touchdown, and the Bulldogs held the big red birds scoreless.

The Bulldogs came out in the second half bold and daring with an onside kick that they recovered after Cardinal Chance Leroue made first contact.

From the WP 40- yard line the Bulldogs would get set back 5 yards after an ineligible receiver was found downfield.

Trying the air attack once more was Bickelhaupt, but Cardinal Justin Zuger jumped into the action for his first of two interceptions of the night and the Cardinals took back the ball on its own 42-yard line.

"If there was a game ball to hand out tonight Zuger would get it," said Head Coach Jeff Bartlow. "He plays with 100 percent will, honesty, and integrity."

The Cardinals didn't get a chance to turn Zuger's interception into anything because of Bickelhaupt picking off Bartlow on 2nd down.

The Bulldogs were looking for some offense of its own on 3rd and 10, but Bickelhaupt was greeted once again by Stearns for a loss of 14, and the Bulldogs special teams would once again see some field time.

The Bulldogs took back possession after its defense held the Cardinals to another punting situation.

The Cardinals defense would return the favor and the Bulldogs would kick it away with 5:14 left in the 3rd.

Another encroachment penalty on the Bulldogs would set the Cardinals on the 41-yard line with 1st and 5. The Birds didn't stay there long as Billy Brown broke through up the middle and dragged a couple of Bulldogs on his heels all the way to the WP 4-yard line, setting the Cardinals for 1st and goal.

A Bartlow keeper and an extra point from Jose Barrajas flashed 7 on the board and the Cardinals were up by one.

The Bulldogs wasted no time marching down the field to start the fourth quarter and soon found itself well within field goal range on the WP 6-yard line, but were kicking themselves after the field goal attempt was wide on the left side and the Cardinals took over on their own 20- yard line with 8:35 left in the game. The Bulldogs would have the ball returned to them after a Cardinal punt and had three minutes left to make something happen.

From its own 14-yard line the Bulldogs faked a punt on 4th and 15 and Bickelhaupt found Garett Turner for a 30- yard reception. The Bulldogs took a time out with 1:11 remaining. Forty-eight seconds remained when Zuger picked off Bickelhaupt for the second time and returned it to the Dayton 36-yard line.

There was nothing left to do but for the Cardinals to take victory formation and send the Bulldogs back to the doghouse.

" My hats off to Dean Bickelhaupt and his Bulldogs," said Bartlow. "Defensively there are tough and physical and they came to play."

"Every yard on both sides was grudgingly earned," said Bartlow. "We needed a close game to put things in perspective. This is a huge win and a relief."