DECATUR -- The Decatur Bulldogs made a long three and a half hour trip to central Arkansas to take on the Hector Wildcats, the number four team in the state. The Wildcats were undefeated in conference play and number one in the league.
From the start, the Bulldogs struggled against a team that was bigger, stronger and more aggressive.
The first half was dominated by the Wildcats and they held the Bulldogs scoreless. Hector racked up 19 points in the first quarter and 20 points in the second to take a commanding lead into the locker room at the half, 39 to 0.
The second half was a different story. The Bulldogs managed to hold the Wildcats scoreless throughout the third and fourth quarters.
Decatur had several chances to put points on the board but failed to capitalize on all but one drive. A fourth quarter run by Tony Mendoza kept Decatur from being shut out; but, in the end, the Wildcats were just too strong. The Wildcats scratched the Bulldogs, 39 to 7.
"It was a tough match," Shane Holland, Decatur's head coach, said. "They were very, very, very large and athletic, and they over matched us."
"We couldn't run the football. We threw the ball well at times," Holland said. "But we could never slow them down."
With the loss, Decatur drops to 2 and 6 overall and 2 and 4 in conference play.
The Bulldogs return to Decatur to meet the Union Christian Eagles, currently 4 and 3 overall and 4 and 2 in conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday
STATS
Passing: Leng Lee -- 19 completions out of 29 attempts for 200 yards.
Rushing: Lee -- 12 carries for 7 yards, Tony Mendoza -- 1 carry for 3 yards, Allan Castaneda -- 3 carries for 19 yards, Total -- 16 carries for 15 yards.
Receiving: Mendoza -- 1 carry for 76 yards, Castaneda -- 11 carries for 66 yards, Brody Funk -- 1 carry for 23 yards, Tyler Riddle -- 1 carry for 18 yards, Joey Barnes -- 4 carries for 13 yards, Wyatt Bingham -- 1 carry for 4 yards, total -- 19 carries for 200 yards.
Tackles: Castaneda and Ryan Shaffer -- 8, Jaffett Puga -- 7, Kyle Shaffer -- 6, Brody Funk -- 5, Others -- 23.
Punts: Funk -- 3 for 81 yards.
Kickoff returns: Lee -- 2 for 30 yards, Mendoza -- 3 for 42 yards, Puga -- 1 for 10 yards, Total -- 6 for 82 yards.
Scores: Mendoza -- 6 points, 1 point after, total points -- 7.
In other Decatur games, the junior high lost at home to the Hector Wildcats, 27 to 0. The seventh grade team, playing at home, held the Hector Wildcats scoreless to take the win 6 to 0 .
The junior high team will travel south to Fort Smith where they will take on Union Christian. Game time is 7 p.m. Thursday
Sports on 10/29/2014