Dawgs blanked by Cardinals
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-Chronicle photo
Bulldog quarterback Byron Collier (18) completed 75% of his passes for 99 yards and he gained 42 yards on 16 carries, but Dayton's combined offense couldn't match Waitsburg's 476 total yards. Rushing is Blake French (17)
WAITSBURG–Fumbles and interceptions plagued the Bulldogs while Waitsburg's Cardinals made big play after big play on its way to a 48-0 S.E. B-8 win here September 15.
Waitsburg's stingy defense repeatedly squelched Dawg offensive pushes, negating several nice gains with short stops and quarterback sacks,and holding Dayton to 163 total yards of offense, 38 rushing and 125 yards through the air.
Quarterback Byron Collier connected on eight of 12 passes for 99 yards before an injury took him out of the game in the third quarter. Collier found Denver Hutchens six times for 91 yards and Jordan McCowen for an eight-yard gain.
The Cardinals counted 476 yards of total offense, 392 rushing and 84 passing. They were yellow flagged for 65 yards.
"We were moving the ball on them," said Head Coach Lucas Collier, "our defense just wasn't pursuing.
"They got up last week then thought they could roll over this team and they just didn't bring it."
The Bulldogs have a bye week this Friday then St. John-Endicott/LaCross visits on Sept. 29.
Dayton won the toss and deferred, kicking to Waitsburg, then the Cards marched 45 yards in four plays for the opening score, a ten-yard run by quarterback Isa Reyes. Koyen Fortune punched in the conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Dayton started in good field position on their 38 after Kaylub Prather's 23-yard kick return. Quarterback Collier surprised the Cardinal defense with a keeper on the first play for 15 yards, but on the next play, the Dawgs fumbled but William Durham recovered.
On fourth and 12, Collier hit Hutchens for a first down at the Cardinal 31 but Waitsburg's Reuben Yutzy and Jarod Hankins blitzed and sacked Collier. Passing on second and 24, JJ Gleason picked Collier's pass and returned it 70 yards to paydirt.
Prather again gave the Dawgs good field position with a 37-yard return to the Cardinal 42. Dayton ground out a first down but the drive stopped when Reuben Yutzy dropped on a Bulldog fumble.
Dayton's defense seemed to have some momentum, pushing the Cards back to their 12, then on third and 13, Cyson Morris scampered 72 yards untouched for six. Again Dayton stuffed the PAT but Waitsburg held the lead 20-0.
Dayton went to the air, Collier finding Jordan McCowen for an eight-yard advance, then hitting Hutchens to push deep to the Waitsburg 22. But Waitsburg's Jayce Gleason ripped the ball from a Dayton rusher and tromped 60 yards the other way for six. With a two-point conversion, the Cardinals held a 28-0 lead.
The Bulldogs' next drive was marred by a couple penalties, leading to a fourth-down play where Waitsburg's Morris intercepted, giving them the ball on the Bulldog 45. Six plays later, despite a Waitsburg hold penalty, Brenton Segraves crossed the goal line for six and a 34-0 margin at 9:52.
Dayton's next drive was productive thanks to a fourth-and-19 conversion, a 23-yard pass reception by Hutchens for first down on the Card 40. Collier rushed for a first down to the 28 and Prather made a 15-yard gain to the 15 where the drive bogged down, Waitsburg stopping the option by Prather and defending the Collier-to-Hutchens connection on third and fourth downs.
First play from scrimmage at their 35, junior receiver Lucas Van Hoose caught a Reyes pass for a 65-yard touchdown and with 4:14 in the first half, the running clock.
The Dawgs managed a good play or two each drive, but Waitsburg's defense was plugging things up, holding Dayton to several plays and maybe a first down or two in the three second-half possessions. Quarterback Collier left the game early in the third quarter and Beau Hazelbaker stepped in to run the offense. In the fourth quarter, Prather carried on successive downs to the 31, then Sawyer Brenner hit Hutchens for first and goal on the five but Dayton fumbled and Waitsburg's Yutzy recovered.
-Chronicle photo
Denver Hutchens made six catches for 91 yards.
Waitsburg 48, Dayton 9 (9-15)
Day 0 0 0 0-0
Wait 28 12 8 0-48
Wait-Reyes 10 yd run. Fortune run.
Wait-Gleason 70 yd interception. Run failed.
Wait-Morris 60 yd run. Run failed.
Wait-Gleason 60 yd fumble recovery. Pass good.
Wait-Segraves 1 yd run. Run failed.
Wait-VanHoose 75-yd pass from Reyes. Run failed.
Wait-Reyes 48 yd run. Fortune run.
