Bulldog football dominates Charleston
By FRED KRONER
The Bulldogs took control from the opening kickoff on Friday (April 9) en route to their most dominating win of the football season, a 35-3 triumph at home over Apollo Conference rival Charleston.
Senior Cole Hubble returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and, after Kyle Walmer converted the first of his five consecutive extra points, M-S had a lead (7-0) that would not vanish.
“That definitely was a tone-setter,” M-S coach Jon Adkins said. “We told the kids all week this was a statement game.
“There’s no better way to make a statement than by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.”
M-S led, 21-3, at halftime. The 32-point margin of victory was the largest for the Bulldogs this season as well as the fewest points allowed.
Quarterback Braden Finch scored three touchdowns and passed to Dream Morgan-Eagle for the other Bulldog score. In his last three games, Finch has scored eight TDs.
Morgan-Eagle has 16 receptions for the season and scored his first TD of the year against the Trojans.
Finch produced his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, gaining a game-high 180 yards on the ground.
For the second game in a row, Finch didn’t have any passes intercepted. His total offense (211 yards) marked the third time in four games he eclipsed the 200-yard barrier.
“I’m proud of the way he has been playing,” Adkins said. “The thing that has gone unnoticed is how he has matured as a leader for this team.
“He is incredible to watch. I am so proud of the leader and teammate he has become.”
Skyler Yancy also hit the 100-yard mark in rushing for the third straight game, collecting 113 yards on 19 carries.
Yancy has the ability to make gains wherever he runs.
“He can do it on the outside, or he can go between the tackles,” Adkins said. “That’s a nice 1-2 punch (with Finch). You have to pick your poison.”
Adkins wasn’t surprised by the outstanding performance against his high school alma mater.
“We had the best week of practice of any team I’ve ever been involved with,” Adkins said. “We gave great effort and energy. Our confidence was up.
“The thing that got us over the hill was our message, ‘Prove that we’re for real.’”
M-S held a 338-270 edge in total offense and shut down a Trojan offense which entered the game with a 41.3 points-per-game scoring average.
“The entire ‘D’ unit was responsible for holding them down,” Adkins said.
Defensively, Jack Gallier, Ashton Heiser and Peyton Myers finished with five tackles apiece. Ethan Grindley intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game. Grindley and Nick Golden ended with three tackles each.
The defensive backfield, which features players such as Grindley, Heiser, Dayten Eisenmann, Hayden Nelson and Nolan Nierenhausen, has emerged as a formidable unit.
One benefit for the Bulldogs is that nearly two dozen players are regularly contributing.
“We only have one player (junior lineman Mitchell Gallier) going both ways,” Adkins said. “When we’re able to focus on one side of the ball, it’s a huge benefit and then we’re fresh in the fourth quarter.”
M-S (2-2) returns to action on Friday (April 16) at unbeaten and state-ranked (No. 8 in Class 3A) Tolono Unity.
“This will be a great test for our kids,” Adkins said. “They are ranked for a reason. They are very good.
“We’re happy to have that opportunity. We don’t get a Week 10 game (playoff), but we have an awesome possibility this Friday against a high-caliber club. It will be a playoff-atmosphere type of game.”
