MOUNTAINBURG -- The Decatur Bulldogs faced an uphill climb Friday when they traveled south to take on the Dragons of Mountainburg.
Decatur was without the services of veteran quarterback Victor Urquidi. Urquidi sustained a sprained ankle on the third play in last week's Hartford game and remained sidelined for the game. The job of leading the Bulldogs down the field fell to sophomore Leng Lee.
Mountainburg scored twice in the first quarter to take a 12 to 0 lead.
However, late in the first quarter, Decatur running back Tony Mendoza found an opening on the Mountainburg side of the field and took it in for 6 points. He followed with an extra point to bring the score within reach, 12 to 7 Dragons.
In the second quarter, the defense on both sides of the ball held their opponents to a single touchdown.
Just as it looked like Decatur's wide receiver Joey Barnes was about to go down, he slipped through one tackle, then another, and still another until he found a wide-open path to the end zone and scored. Mendoza split the upright to make it an 18 to 14 Mountainburg game at the half.
"We were in there the first half," said Shane Holland, head Bulldog football coach. "We created some turnovers. We threw the football well at times. Joey Barnes did a great job of moving the football. The defense created a couple of turnovers which helped us in the first half."
But just before the half ended, Decatur linebacker Jaffett Puga found himself buried in a pile of players following a play. He left the game with an injured thumb -- just the beginning of a series of unfortunate events for Decatur.
In the second half, the Dragons came out breathing fire and played a very aggressive ballgame.
The Dragons scored early in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs answered with a long run by Allan Castaneda to make it a 25 to 20 ballgame. The Bulldogs tried for two but failed to get into the end zone.
From that point on the Bulldogs were held at bay.
Later in the third quarter, linebacker Troy Kell left the game with a neck injury. And, midway through the fourth quarter, senior defensive end Kyle Shaffer was sidelined with a possible hamstring injury.
Being four men down, the demoralized Decatur team could not hold back the onslaught of the Dragons offense and the game ended with the Bulldogs down, 55 to 20.
"In the second half, Mountainburg came out a different animal," Holland said. "They decided that they were going to run right at us. We never had a chance to slow them down."
Holland said Monday that Kyle Shaffer will be able to play in the Hackett game. Victor Urquidi and Jaffett Puga may also be able to play, depending on doctor reports. Troy Kell is expected to be out for at least two weeks.
The varsity will travel south once again on Friday to take on the Hackett Hornets for its third conference game of the season. Kickoff time in Hackett will be 7 p.m.
Game Stats:
Passing: Lee -- attempted 34, completed 16, for 221 yards
Rushing: Lee -- 8 carries for 19 yards; Castaneda -- 11 carries for 30 yards; total yards rushing -- 49
Receiving: Barnes -- 9 carries for 128 yards; Mendoza -- 5 carries for 82 yards; Funk had -- 1 carry for 7 yards; Ryan Shaffer -- 1 carry for 5 yards; total -- 221 yards
Tackles: Castaneda -- 13, Ryan Shaffer -- 11, Funk -- 9, Kyle Shaffer -- 8, total -- 87
Sacks: Kyle Shaffer -- 2, Funk -- 1
Scores: Barnes -- 6 points; Castaneda -- 6 points; Mendoza -- 6 points and two extra points; total -- 20 points
In other Bulldog games, on Sept. 18, the seventh grade and junior high teams played Mountainburg at home. The seventh grade team lost, 20 to 8. The junior high was shut out by the Dragons, 42 to 0.
Next game for the junior high will be a 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Bulldog Stadium when they take on the Hackett Hornets. The seventh grade team will also play Hackett at home. Kick off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
For more information, go to decatursd.com/athletics or visit the Facebook page at Decatur Bulldogs Athletics.
Sports on 09/24/2014