Bulldogs Beat Riverside for First Win

DAYTON - The Dayton Bulldogs won their first game of the season Friday night at home against Riv­erside of Boardman, 14-6. Bulldog coach Dean Bick­elhaupt said he was relieved to finally have a notch in the win column.

Bickelhaupt said that the game was mostly a defensive battle in the first half. The first score of the game came six seconds before halftime, when Dayton linebacker An­drew Mendoza scooped up a Riverside fumble and ran it in from the 35 yard line. The attempted two-point conver­sion failed, giving Dayton a 6-0 halftime lead.

Riverside scored their only touchdown of the game in the third quarter, with about 10:40 on the clock. Quarterback Gregg Shimer ran the ball in from 15 yards out to tie the game at six apiece.

Dayton senior Lowden Smith scored the Bulldogs' second touchdown with three minutes left in the game, and also made the two-point conversion. Smith was out most of the first half with a sprained ankle, which he injured on the opening kickoff. He was able to get his ankle taped up and come in during the second half. Smith ended up with 13 car­ries and 40 rushing yards.

Mendoza had an out­standing defensive game. Besides his fumble recovery for a score off a Riverside hook and ladder play, he also had two pass interceptions.

Dayton's Ben Kleck, a freshman, helped the Bull­dogs a ton, with 19 carries and 138 yards. Bickelhaupt said, "Kleck is improving a lot through the season and will be a lot of help as the season goes on if more inju­ries occur."

Bulldog running back Guy Spallinger, who broke his collarbone during the first game of the year, re-in­jured his shoulder in the first quarter of Friday's game, and is likely out for the sea­son. That injury, combined with Smith's ankle sprain, will hurt the Bulldogs down the stretch.

Overall, Bickelhaupt said he was proud of all his play­ers for getting their first win of the year. He said he will wait to see how the team does, as it overcomes the new injuries.