Dawgs win on homecoming

The CCHS Bulldogs won their homecoming football game, defeating the Broadus Hawks 56-28 at Rowley Field on September 22nd. The Bulldog offense was cruising, but struggles on defense kept their opponent in the contest until the fourth quarter.

Blue used a thirteen play drive to score after the opening kickoff. The drive was capped by a 4-yard run from quarterback Chace Loehding, who returned this week after seeing limited time earlier this season due to injury. Loehding also ran in the conversion to give blue an 8-0 lead at the 6:17 mark in the first quarter.

After the long drive, the Bulldogs allowed the Hawks to score in one play on a 55-yard QB scamper. The Hawks failed on their conversion so Blue maintained a two-point lead.

The Bulldogs put together a 5-play drive on their next possession, capping it on a 35-yard touchdown run from tailback Zander Ashbrook. Loehding again added the conversion.

The Bulldog defense got its only stop of the first half by forcing a 3 and out on the next series. On fourth down, Ethan Frye blocked the punt. The ball went out of bounds at the one yard line. Loehding then scored on a quarterback sneak and ran in the conversion to put the 'Dogs up two scores.

Broadus came back and scored on their next possession. The Dawgs made them work for it some, as it took nine plays for Broadus to score. The drive spanned the rest of the first quarter and part of the second.

It took seven plays for Blue to score on their next possession. Ashbrook ran in a dive from two yards out to finish it off, but the Dawgs failed to complete the conversion.

The Dog defense was poor again on the next series, allowing Broadus to drive down the field and score in eight plays. Luckily, the offense stayed hot as Blue scored on another QB run from four yards out just a few minutes later.

The Hawks ran out of time on their next possession which ended at halftime after five plays. Blue took a two possession lead into the half.

The Bulldog defense improved some in the second half. Freshman linebacker Rylan Carroll intercepted a pass on the third play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Loehding scored on a QB keeper five plays later, aided by some nice blocking from Carroll. Fullback Ethan Frye ran in the conversion.

Broadus scored in one play on their next possession. The score came on a 52 yard pass. The Hawks had not yet gave in.

In fact, they finally stopped the 'Dogs on their next possession. After eight plays, Blue turned it over on downs.

The Hawks' hope was short lived though, a few plays into their next drive, Roger Beach intercepted another Broadus pass. Then, six plays later, Loehding scampered in from 14 yards out.

With the lead mounting and time running short for the Hawks, Blue was finally able to start subbing in some backups and younger kids on the next defensive possession. The younger guys delivered on defense with a stop of their own, but failed to get it going on offense and eventually gave the ball back to Broadus. Five plays later Blue had another stop as Broadus failed to convert on a fake punt.

The final score of the game came just a few plays later when Ethan Mellon ran in a sweep from 8 yards out. Blue didn't score on the conversion.

Moments later the clock hit zero, giving the Bulldogs a big win in front of their homecoming crowd.

This Friday, the Bulldogs will take on the Forsyth Doggies in Forsyth. The winner of the contest will be the southeastern eight man conference champion, regardless of what happens the following week when the Bulldogs wrap up their conference play at home vs. St. Labre. The last time CCHS won the conference championship outright was in 2007 as a member of the 8-man eastern conference.

Standings through Saturday, Sept. 26

8-Man Southeast

CCHS; 3-0; 4-1

Forsyth; 3-0; 3-2

Park City; 1-2; 2-3

Broadus; 1-2; 1-4

Lodge Grass; 0-2; 1-2

St. Labre; 0-2; 0-2