Bulldogs wreck Rector

Bulldogs wreck Rector

Earle induced the mercy rule in the first quarter over Rector in the first quarter, putting up 45 first- frame points

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Earle Bulldogs (5-1 overall, 3-0 2A Conference) wasted no time this past Friday in securing their fifth straight victory, defeating the Rector Cougars (0-4, 0-2) 66-0.

The game was seemingly over before it began with the Bulldogs ending the first quarter on top of the Cougars 45-0 and the mercy rule mercifully in affect.

Earle assistant coach Carl Miller says the main difference between the older Bulldogs and the youngand- scrappy Cougars was experience.

“They’re a very young team versus a veteran team,” Miller said. “Not taking anything away from them. They competed.

But, with the veteran players we got on our team and the experience and speed and everything, it just took over the game real fast.”

Earle running back Anthony White initially got the Bulldogs on the board, breezing in the Cougars end zone from 25 yards out. Senior quarterback Gerry Bohannon quickly followed trend, rushing in from 40 yards away to give Earle a 16-0 lead at the time.

Not to be outdone, White would equal his signal callers run, adding a 40yard score of his own.

Earle running back Treyvon Reel secured the longest touchdown run for Earle as the Bulldogs senior dashed down the field for a 70-yard score. And, wide receiver Tavarius Thomas also got in on the ground-game fun, scampering in the Rector end zone on a 38-yard run.

But, it was White who led all the Bulldogs in total yards, accounting 115 total rushing yards.

Earle quarterback Bohannon also threw the football into the end zone a couple of times, scoring four times through the air, to be exact, on nine-ofthirteen passing.

Bohannon’s favorite target most of the night seemed to be Thomas who hauled in three balls for 80 yards and a receiving touchdown. Miller is especially proud of the way the senior receiver Thomas played, saying, that at 5-5, Thomas could be flying under team’s radars.

“I want to acknowledge him this week,” Miller said. “He had a good game offensively and defensively. He’s going to be that one that sneaks under the radar on some people. He’s had good games these past couple of weeks and he’s come into his own in particular. He ran the ball and he’s been big welcome back there.”

The Bulldog defense also found the end zone as junior Justin Brown returned an interception for 25 yards in that explosive first quarter for Earle and senior linebacker Cordell Chase led the Bulldogs defense in tackles with 15.

The Earle defense has now limited opponents to 40 points over their last five games. Overall on the win streak, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined 243 points.

However, despite their recent success and their dominating performance against Rector, Miller hopes his team will steer away from gaining a false sense of confidence.

“They had a good first quarter,” Miller said. “But, I told them, ‘You ain’t where you need to be. This ain’t showing you who you really are. You won’t know that until you face a team that pushes you all four quarters.”

That challenge may come soon as the Bulldogs prepare to travel to Cherry Valley to play the Cross County Thunderbirds (3-3, 2-0) in two weeks. The Thunderbirds defeated the Bulldogs last season and Miller says Earle is already looking forward to the rematch.

“This Cross County game will be a test,” Miller said. “They feel like they can beat us any given time.

But, this ain’t the same team that played them the past two years… Within the next two weeks, if we get them prepared and ready for the game, it won’t happen again.”

But, before the Bulldogs travel to Cherry Valley for their highly anticipated game with the Thunderbirds, Earle will host the Midland Mustangs (1-5, 0-3) for the Bulldogs homecoming game this Friday.

The homecoming kickoff in Earle between the Bulldogs and Mustangs is slated for 7:00 p.m.

By Collins Peeples