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WALLA WALLA–The DeSales Irish had an answer for nearly every Bulldog strategy and cruised to a 78-6 win here October 27.
The 2-6 Bulldogs close the 2023 team-building season this Friday with Homecoming and Senior Night against Garfield Palouse, kick off at 7 p.m. Senior Recognition gets under way at 6:45 p.m. and Homecoming ceremonies will occur at half time.
The DeSales defense stifled Dayton's offense, holding the rushing game to just 23 yards and preventing two-thirds of the Bulldog air attack from success, limiting Dayton quarterback Jordan McCowen's completions to eight of 23 with four interceptions.
The Irish chalked up 462 yards of total offense while the Dawgs managed 138.
DeSales handed off to Diego Caso, who scampered 23 yards for the opening touchdown, and the PAT pass from Cohen Wood to Carter Green was good.
The Irish scored next on a 28-yard Braeden McCauley reception from Wood, with Billy Holtzinger punching in the point after and a 16-0 lead.
Caso scored again on a 21-yard run with about a minute left in the first quarter, the Wood to Green pass good for the point after and a 24-0 score.
Bulldog Kaylub Prather made 20 yards on the kick return but the DeSales defense pushed the Dawgs back to fourth and 18 and a punt. DeSales committed the only penalty of the game when a fair catch was called for then the receiver advanced the ball. The Irish scored on a 41-yard pass from Wood to Sal Sisk as first-quarter time expired.
Starting the second period with a 30-0 margin, the Dawgs shifted to the ground game and Kaylub Prather, whose carries gained five yards, turning the ball over on downs. The Irish scored in three plays from the Bulldog 39, the last a 27-yard pass from Wood to Levi Bingham.
Dayton's next drive was more productive as McCowen connected with Silas Czapka for a six-yard gain then he hit Denver Hutchens on a slant for a first down at the 50-yard line. There Prather was held to a two-yard advance then the Irish secondary prevented McCowen passes intended for Raymond Yutzy and Prather. On fourth and eight, Sisk intercepted a pass intended for Czapka, who made the tackle.
Blitzing, the Bulldog defense had quarterback Wood on the run, but he scrambled out of the pickle and threw to Remy Arceo for a 70-yard touchdown. Leading 44-0, the running clock was in play.
Prather returned the next kick off 15 yards to the 25, but McCowen's first pass was picked by Manning Filan who returned it for six. With Caso's PAT, the score was 52-0.
Prather again found some daylight in the Irish's kick off defense, moving the ball 22 yards to the 32, and again McCowen's first pass of the series was intercepted by Bingham, who returned the ball some 40 yards to the Dayton 28. There Wood threw a scoring strike to Trey McCauley and a 58-0 lead. Dayton's few plays ate up the second-quarter clock.
The Irish booted the ball to open the second half and then clamped down on the Dawg offense, forcing a punt on fourth and 15. On first down, Caso picked his way through the Dayton defense for six and counted the extra point for a 66-0 lead.
Dayton set up shop on the 21 after a Prather return of about 10 yards. McCowen carried on a sweep to the left for not gain, a pass to Prather went uncaught, then McCowen fired one to Hutchens for a 21-yard advance to the 42 and a first down.
Hutchens caught another for an eight-yard gain to the 50 where on third and three, the snap was fumbled and DeSales recovered. The Irish went to Billy Holtzinger for three carries and a 14-yard touchdown ramble for a 72-0 lead.
Dayton started at their 22-yard line with seconds remaining in the third. Will Durham punched in a seven-yard gain as time ran out.
The Dawgs continued the drive in the fourth quarter with McCowen hitting Prather for a first down. Then Dayton made an exciting 41-yard gain on the successful execution of a hook and ladder play, McCowen hitting Hutchens who lateraled to Prather.
Prather and McCowen moved the ball to the DeSales 16 on two rushes, then Prather made runs of six, four and four before he punched it in with seven minutes remaining. McCowen's pass intended for Yutzy was incomplete.
DeSales wasn't finished. Maddox Filan fielded the Bulldog kick off and was surrounded around the 25-yard line, he then dodged, ducked, dipped, dived and dodged away from Bulldog tacklers for a 74-yard return and a final 78-6 score.
Yutzy returned the final kick off about 30 yards, stopped by a shoestring tackle. Prather found open field for a 22-yard scamper but another center-quarterback miscue reversed Dayton about 10 yards. The drive stalled, and DeSales moved the ball on a couple carries into Bulldog territory as time expired.
DeSales 78, Dayton 6 (10-27)
Day 0 0 0 6-6
DeS 30 28 14 6-78
SCORING SUMMARY
DeS - Caso 23 run (Green pass from Wood)
DeS - McCauley 28 pass from Wood (Holtzinger run)
DeS - Caso 21 run (Green pass from Wood)
DeS - Sisk 41 pass from Wood (pass failed)
DeS - L. Bingham 17 pass from Wood (run failed)
DeS - Arceo 63 pass from Wood (Holtzinger run)
DeS - C. Bingham 30 interception return (Wilson run)
DeS - McCauley 27 pass from Wood (pass failed)
DeS - Caso 45 run (Caso run)
DeS - Holtzinger 14 run (run failed)
Day - Prather 1 run (pass failed)
DeS - Filan 74 kickoff return (run failed)
Day DeS
1st Dns 8 12
Rush-Yds 28-23 18-176
Pass (cmp-att-ints)
8-23-4 10-11-0
Pass Yds 115 286
Tot Off 138 462
Pnts-Avg 3-22.7 0-0
Fumb-Lst 1-1 0-0
Pen-Yds 0-0 1-5
