Bulldogs seek first win
Going into Friday night’s game on the road at Blankenship Field, Bearden High School’s football team was still in search of its first win.
The Bulldogs fought and played hard to the end, but Oak Ridge
High School simply was too good. The Wildcats built a 34-0 halftime lead, then cruised to a 34-7 win.
“They’re a good football team,” ‘Dogs’ coach Brad Taylor said. “I think they have a chance to have a really good game against (Region 2-6A powerhouse) Maryville. We were a little banged up coming into this game. Few starters out but a lot of kids still played hard.”
ORHS made it 7-0 on the game’s opening drive when quarterback Blaine Stansberry scored on a 3-yard keeper with 9:21 left in the first.
A punt by Bearden then led to a 37-yard field goal by ‘Cats’ kicker Eli Pearson and a 10-0 lead halfway through the first.
Late in the quarter Oak Ridge increased its advantage to 17 when Stansberry connected with tight end Malik Howard – widely recruited by D1 programs – for a 28-yard touchdown. A pass interference call against BHS on the drive’s first play helped the ‘Cats on the possession.
Seventeen more points in the second quarter by Oak Ridge put the game away. Twice the Bulldogs had promising drives going in the second period, but both resulted in interceptions.
“We gotta take care of the ball,” Taylor said. “We
had a couple drives toward
the end of the first half, got some first downs. We just didn’t get enough first downs early on. Too many turnovers for sure.”
The Wildcats’ halftime lead triggered a continuous clock in the second half. BHS
avoided a shutout when, very late in the game, quarterback Aiden Thacker connected
with Kannon Sipe for a touchdown.
The first-half stats were telling. Oak Ridge had 340 yards of total offense; Bearden 98. The ‘Cats had 123 yards rushing; the ‘Dogs’ 29. Thacker threw for 69 yards; Stansberry 217, 144 of which were to Howard on 10 receptions and included two scores.
“We had some passes we’d like to get back but there were a lot of passes he made that were really good,” Taylor said of Thacker, who completed 14 of 26.
Neither Taylor nor Sipe worry about whether the Bulldogs (0-6, 0-4 Region) will keep buying in and giving it their all.
“We’re taking our bumps and bruises right now,” Taylor said. “We’re not giving up yet at this point. I’m proud of the character the kids showed tonight.”
“We’re gonna hang in and keep fighting,” said Kannon.
BHS has an open date this Friday. The Bulldogs return to action in Cleveland against the Blue Raiders on Oct. 17.
