Bulldogs Fall To Stanfield In Season Opener

DAYTON - The Dayton Bulldogs demonstrated their te­nacity Friday in a heartbreaking loss against the Stanfield Tigers, ending the first game of the sea­son with a final score of 47-6.

The Bulldogs started the game with momentum, moving the ball down the field and into Tiger territory before a fumble stopped the Dogs in their tracks and moved the Tigers into scoring position. The Tigers pounced on their first oppor­tunity, bringing the ball down into the red zone and scoring at 11:04. The Tigers went for a field goal but the kick was no good, bringing the score to 6-0, Tigers.

The Bulldogs fought back, recovering a fumbled ball and leaning heavily on senior num­ber 10 Wyatt Frame to run the ball. But the Bulldogs couldn't break through the Tigers' line and the ball was turned over.

The Tigers kept the heat on, taking advantage of Dayton penalties to move down the field. The Bulldogs countered with big tackles, but couldn't keep the Tigers from making it into the end zone for a second touchdown. The Tigers took advantage of their big line and attempted to run the ball for two more points but couldn't break the Bulldogs' line, bring­ing the score to 12-0 at 4:48.

The Bulldogs were not ready to let go of the game and responded to the Tigers' touch­downs with a good pass from senior quarterback, number 3 Lowden Smith to senior number 44 Kane Hackett for a first down. Smith moved the ball again to Frame for another first down and moved the ball himself for 3 yards.

Just as the Bulldogs started to pick up momentum, the team couldn't move the ball for the next first down, turning it back over to the Tigers.

The Tigers weren't able to move the ball back into the end zone before the end of the first quarter, but the team didn't let anything stop them in the second quarter.

Frame intercepted a pass early in the second quarter to slow the Tigers down, but they moved on a run for another touchdown at 9:24 and a good field goal attempt bringing the score to 19-0, Tigers.

The Bulldogs struggled to hang on to the ball and turned over on fumbles and downs, but were able to hold the Tigers until the dogs got the ball back near their own end zone. After a tough few downs and a timeout, the Bulldogs hit the field with determination only to be crushed by a sack in the end zone, giving the Tigers a safety and bringing the score to 21-0. The Tigers' number 2 broke away in the Tigers' next possession for another touchdown at 2:49 and a missed field goal, bringing the score to 27-0 at the end of the half.

The Bulldogs returned from halftime with the same tough spirit they started the game with. The third quarter brought a lot of yardage for both teams, moving back and forth across the field un- til the Tigers broke away for a touchdown at 9:59 with a good kick bringing the score to 34-0.

The Bulldogs moved the ball in their next posses- sion, but couldn't move far enough to score. The Tigers took the ball back down the field for a touchdown and a good kick at 5:56 bringing the score to 41-0.

The Bulldogs couldn't be discouraged that easily, and retaliated the shutout score with a 70-yard run by junior wide receiver Christian War- ner for the Dogs' only touch- down of the game. The field goal attempt was no good, bringing the score to 41-6.

The Bulldogs moved into the fourth quarter ready to score to come back. They held the Tigers for most of the quarter until the Tigers finally broke through to score again at 2:04. They went for two, but couldn't get through the Bulldogs' line bringing the final score to 47-6, Tigers.

"We beat ourselves," Head Coach Dean Bickel- haupt said. "We have good kids, good athletes, but they're new."

Athletic Director Rick Hamilton noted the size difference between the Tigers and the Bulldogs, saying that this difference played a big part in the loss.

Bickelhaupt said the Ti- gers are a good team and are predicted to be the top of the league so he wasn't too let down about the loss. Bickelhapt added that his team would continue to get better and grow into their positions.

"We know what we need to work on," Bickelhaupt said. "They're going to get better."

The Bulldogs' next game will be against Enterprise at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Enterprise.