Bulldogs Bite the Panthers

By Terry Futrell – October 19, 2018

Two plays, and for all practical purposes, the game was over! When the Wartburg Central Bulldogs played host to the Sale Creek Panthers tonight, the Bulldogs first two plays from scrimmage foretold a huge 55-19 Wartburg victory in the making. Beginning the Wartburg opening drive at their own 43-yard line, Bulldog quarterback Josh Moore rushed twice for 51 yards and six yards to put Wartburg on the scoreboard with less than one minute off the clock.

For the next 47 minutes, the outcome of this game was never in doubt. The Bulldogs were up 20-0 at the end of the first quarter and took a 34-7 lead into the locker room at the half. At the end of three, Wartburg led 48-13. The Bulldogs traded scores with the Panthers in the fourth quarter, closing out the game at 55-19.

As they have done so many times this season, the Bulldogs offense treated fans to some really big scoring plays, including five TD receptions greater than 38 yards. The Bulldogs also had a 27-yard rushing touchdown. With so many big plays, it is no surprise that the Bulldogs only had 15 first downs compared to 10 for the Panthers.

The Bulldog offense turned in one of its most productive evenings, amassing a total of 440 yards against the Panthers. Josh Moore and Tyler Davis combined for 13 of 17 passing for 344 yards and five touchdowns. Moore was 10 of 14 passing for 276 yards and four touchdowns. Davis came on late and completed three of three passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. Moore also rushed for 96 yards on seven attempts with two touchdowns. Davis rushed six times for three yards and one touchdown. Caleb McCarty led all receivers with six catches for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Colby Justes had three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Saylor Jones added two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.

The Bulldog defense kept Sale Creek in check for much of the game. The Panthers completed five of 11 passes for 92 yards and rushed 34 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Seventy of the 203 rushing yards came on one play late in the fourth quarter when Wartburg was spreading the joy and substituting freely. The Bulldog defense was led by Saylor Jones with nine solo tackles and two assists. Jake Hamby had three tackles and one sack for the evening.

It was a good evening for the Bulldogs, racking up their fourth victory of the season for the first time since 2012. The Bulldogs face the Meigs County Tigers next Friday. Meigs County is the top-ranked 2A team in the state and has turned in some huge offensive numbers, averaging 41 points per game this season.