'Dogs down Dogies

The CCHS Bulldogs improved their record to 3-0 on the young football season with a win over the Forsyth Dogies on September 13th at Rowley Field. The 'Dogs came out strong, looking to rectify a big loss to Forsyth late last season.

Bulldog Roger Beach had a nice return on the opening kickoff to set up CCHS with good field position. The offense capitalized, scoring on a short, quarterback sneak that capped off a seven play drive at the 8:42 mark of the first quarter. Blue added the conversion for an early 8-point lead.

The 'Dogs second score came just a few plays later when Chace Loehding picked up a Dogie fumble and returned it 25 yards for a score at the 8 minute mark of the first quarter. Blue failed on the ensuing two-point conversion but had an early, 14-0 lead.

Forsyth had a nice kick return of their own, all the way to the Bulldog 20-yard line on the next kickoff. But Blue's defense knocked them backwards and the Dogies went four-and-out on that next possession.

Three plays later CCHS scored again, this time on a 50-yard option play where quarterback Loehding pitched to running back Roger Beach who went untouched into the end zone. Kaleb Frye ran in the conversion and by the 5:43 mark of the first quarter the 'Dogs were up, 22-0.

The Dogies quickly went 3-and-out on their next possession but an excellent punt pinned the 'Dogs back at their own 3-yard line.

Loehding then connected on a 77-yard touchdown pass with Frye on the very next play, the longest offensive scoring play for Blue in recent memory. Loehding snuck in the conversion to put the Bulldogs up 30-0 with 3:53 left in the first.

After another defensive stop, Zander Ashbrook had a short, scoring run that capped off another long 'Dog drive. The 'Dogs attempted to add the conversion through the air, but failed. With 6:23 left in the second quarter Blue was up 36-0.

Seconds later Forsyth got their first score of the game by returning the ensuing kickoff. The Bulldogs gave the Dogies hope by fumbling twice on their next offensive possession,. The fumbles put them in a fourth-and-short situation. Blue got stuffed on fourth down and turned the ball back to Forsyth. Forsyth scored on a pass play on their next fourth down, drawing the game closer, 36-12, with 1:37 left before halftime.

Loehding ran in another score on the next Bulldog possession, this time from 15 yards out as Blue scored with only 10 seconds left in the half. Beach added the two-point conversion. The half ended with the Dogs getting a pair of sacks from Rylan Carroll and Clay Rost with Blue up 44-12.

Forsyth scored on the ground with the first second half possession. Blue fumbled away their next offensive possession as well but the defense tightened and stymied the Dogie run game after that.

The 'Dogs next score came from 37 yards out on another Loehding run. The conversion failed but Blue was up 50-18 at the 4:03 mark of the third quarter.

Beach scored the final touchdown of the game on the ground from 35 yards out with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter. With a 56-18 score, the running clock rule came into effect for the remaining time left.

This weekend the Bulldogs will seek revenge on a team that beat them twice last year, the Circle Wildcats. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Circle. Next weekend, the Bulldogs will take on Culbertson for homecoming.

Eastern 8-Man Standings

Circle; 3-0; 3-0

CCHS; 3-0; 3-0

Fairview; 3-0; 3-0

Culbertson; 2-1; 2-1

Scobey; 2-1; 2-1

Plentywood; 1-2; 1-2

Poplar; 1-2; 1-2

Broadus; 0-3; 0-3

Forsyth; 0-3; 0-3

Wibaux; 0-3; 0-3