Bulldogs Get Big First Win Over Tigers

By Barrett Steed

Messenger Sports

CROCKETT—The Crockett Bulldogs took on the Trinity Tigers on Friday, August 26 in their regular season opener in the Monte Jack Driskell Stadium.

After grueling scrimmages in the pre-season schedule, the Bulldogs kicked off their home opener against the always dangerous Trinity Tigers. The Crockett defense would make a strong stand and a slew of early scores by the offense and a big special-teams score by Lucky Daniels would give the Bulldogs a comfortable 21-0 lead at half-time. Crockett continued their stand in the second half and tacked on three more touchdowns, shutting out the Tigers and capturing their first win 42-0 over Trinity.

The Bulldogs would begin their night on defense, putting the start of the game into the hands of their special teams. Kicker Ricardo Ramirez blasted a high bomb to be fielded at the twenty-one yard line, but a host of Bulldogs quickly brought down the Tiger receiver to set up shop deep in Trinity’s own territory. The first play by the Tigers’ offense would result in a bobbled snap, quickly scooped up by Ahmad Brown to give Crockett’s offense a go.

Led by quarterback B.J. Anderson, the fierce Crockett Bulldogs’ offense would take advantage of their early possession. Running back Xavion Dickson would hit the field, grinding up the middle for a quick strike for the first Bulldogs’ score with 11:37 remaining. Ricardo Ramirez would make quick work of the extra point, giving Crockett an early 7-0 lead.

L.T. Tryon would lead the Bulldogs’ special teams, blasting the Tiger ball carrier at the 40 yard line on the return. After a short opening gain a big Javon Colter tackle would stymy Trinity into a third and long. But a little luck and a great scramble would put the Tigers into Crockett’s side of the field. Big hits by Demarcus Richardson and Daniels and a great pass rush, the Bulldogs would force a fourth and long. Trinity would again pull out some magic, breaking a big play, landing in Crockett’s red zone, but a bobbled snap and an Alton Owens hit deep in the back field would force the Tigers to turn up empty handed.

The Bulldogs’ would take over on offense at the two yard line with 4:11 still remaining in the first quarter. A few hand-offs to Dickson to pull his offense away from the goal line, Anderson would have plenty of room to drop back and find Daniels in open field for a eighty-six yard strike to cap off the four play ninety-eight yard drive with a touchdown. Ramirez would tack on the extra point, giving Crockett a 14-0 lead with 2:40 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The defense would return to the field relentless, Tyler Elmore and Reginald Lockhart lead the Bulldogs to forcing another three-and-out, giving the Bulldogs offense great field position to begin the next quarter.

Crockett would begin their longest drive of the night at their own thirty-four yard-line. Anderson would throw the ball all over the field, hitting Jones and Daniels to provide an aerial assault to Dickson’s ground coverage. After some hard fought yardage, a little trickery from the Bulldogs would put their offense deep in the red zone. An opportune reverse to Derrick Sherman put Crockett into perfect field position, but a flag would take the wind out of the Bulldogs’ sails and after two incompletions, the boys in blue would take their first turnover of the night.

The offense it would seem would not get much of breather, because the Crockett defense would continue to dominate, forcing another punt. But this time Daniels would break free on the return, driving the ball across midfield, slipping tacklers and punching it into the end zone for a huge special-teams score. The extra-point attempt would be good, and the Bulldogs would lead the Tigers 21-0 at the end of the first half of play.

The Bulldogs recovered an attempted onside kick to begin the second half, setting up shop for the offense at Trinity’s forty-six yard line. A penalty would pull the Dogs back to their side of the field, but a quick blast from Daniels behind some great blocking resulted in an exciting fifty-one yard touchdown with 11:32 remaining in the quarter. Ramirez would tack on the extra point, putting Crockett up 28-0.

A quick three and out thanks to great defense by the Bulldogs led by Brown would give Crockett another shot on offense early in the quarter. After a solid return from Daniels, the Bulldogs would set up in Tiger territory at the thirty-four yard line. Quarterback Anderson would hit Daniels for a quick strike, followed by an Anderson keeper, giving Crockett a first down. A penalty would force the Bulldogs to retreat out of the red zone. Despite completions to Latavion Jones and Dickson, Crockett would face a fourth and long situation and turn the ball over.

The Bulldogs’ defense would apply major pressure to the Tigers, forcing Trinity deep into their own territory, resulting in a punt and giving Crockett the ball again with great field position. Anderson would quickly connect with Jones, giving the Bulldogs a first and eleven. The next play, Jones would get the handoff and take it to the end zone for another Crockett score. Ramirez kick would be good, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 35-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth, Crockett’s defense would continue their assault on the Tigers’ offense. After a turnover from the Bulldogs’ offense, the defense would see the field more than they have all night. But a combination of continued penalties from Trinity and major pressure from the defensive line would force another turnover from the Tigers and a major fumble recover by Crockett, resulting in great field position midway through the quarter.

The Bulldog offense continued to be unstoppable. Marcus Smith would set up under the center. Crockett’s offense line would jump off the ball, paving the way for a great one-two punch from Lockhart and Keshaun Smotherman to put the Dogs close. A keeper from Smith would set up for a phenomenal run by Derrick Sherman. Sherman would grind through the Tiger defense, leaping over the goal line for another Bulldog touchdown. Ramirez’s kick would be good, giving Crockett a giant 42-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Trinity’s last offensive drive would end in another punt by the Tigers, but a bobbled reception by the Bulldogs would keep the Tiger offense on the field, but the damage was done. As the final seconds ticked away, Crockett would pull out their first win of the season with a 42-0 victory over Trinity.

With a huge win over the Trinity Tigers, the Crockett Bulldogs prepare to face the always tough Diboll Lumberjacks at home on Friday, September 2.

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