Pioneers overwhelm Bulldogs in football contest

Photo by Mike Eckels Gentry’s Brandon Atwood catches a pass by quarterback Jon Faulkenberry in the end zone for his first touchdown during the Gentry-Decatur football game at Pioneer Stadium in Gentry Sept. 8.
Photo by Mike Eckels Gentry’s Brandon Atwood catches a pass by quarterback Jon Faulkenberry in the end zone for his first touchdown during the Gentry-Decatur football game at Pioneer Stadium in Gentry Sept. 8.

— In the second week of the 2017 football season, the Decatur Bulldogs traveled to Gentry to take on the Pioneers in a non-conference game at Pioneer Stadium Sept. 8.

In week one, the Pioneers defeated Lavaca, 50-0, while the Bulldogs lost their season opener to 4A Berryville, 61-0.

During the opening series of the first quarter, Gentry scored on a touchdown run by Peyton Wright from the Decatur 15 yard line. The point after was good, making it a 7-0 ball game On the third play of the Bulldogs' first possession, a short pass by quarterback Joseph Armstrong to Taylor Haisman at the Gentry 25-yard line resulted in a 75-yard run and the first touchdown of the 2017 season for the Bulldogs. The point after was good, making it a 7-7 game. This would be the only time Decatur would see the end zone during the first half. Gentry, however, took control of the half and scored six more times before the break.

Gentry's quarterback, Jon Faulkenberry, found Brandon Atwood on the left corner of the end zone for the Pioneer's second touchdown. Faulkenberry scored twice, once on a quarterback keeper halfway through the first quarter and again on an intercepted Joseph Armstrong pass in the second quarter. Atwood found the end zone two more times, while teammates Myles McFerron and Jacob Lothes each scored once.

Decatur suffered a series of injuries in the first half, including Takota Parsons, who sustained an ankle injury which sidelined him for the rest of the contest.

Because of injuries and the wide margin on the scoreboard, the Decatur coaching staff decided to forfeit the game to Gentry prior to the start of the second half. The final score remained Gentry 56 and Decatur 7.

Sports on 09/13/2017