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Bulldog defenders rise to the occasion to stuff a Charger pass during the Dawgs 39-13 win Wednesday night in the Dawgs Pound. Bulldog Kaydee Bingham (hands up and hidden) had the first interception of the night. Photo by Lou Martin

The Virgin Valley High School Lady Bulldogs flag football team wasted little time Wednesday night in the Dawg Pound as they scored 33 unanswered points in the first half of play to lead 33-0. The Bulldog defense intercepted four Charger passes giving the offense great field position all night. Bulldog quarterback Kallie Graves took advantage hitting receiver Brooke White for three scores.

Bulldog Kaydee Bingham stepped in front of a Charger pass less than two minutes in giving the Dawgs a first down on the Chargers 35 yard line. Graves hit White for the first T.D. of the night. Graves extra point pass to Dylan Bryant increased the lead to 7-0. Bulldog defender Taylor Bryant picked off a Charger pass on the next possession and took it to the house but the Dawgs were flagged for unnecessary roughness. Not discouraged by the call, Bryant stepped in again with an interception on the Dawgs 20 yard line. The Chargers defense stiffened and intercepted Graves at midfield. The Bulldogs held and gained possession at their 38 yard line and rode the legs of Marlene Quiarte to a score. Quiarte had runs of 19, 20 and 4 yards for the T.D. The extra point pass was no good and the score stood at 13-0. It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to get back on offense as defensive back Emma Dodenbier intercepted the Chargers at the 30 yard line. Graves hit White for a 10 yard T.D. and Quiarte ran the extra point for a 20-0 Bulldog lead with 4:35 remaining in the first half. The Dawgs defense stiffened once again as the Dawgs held the Chargers on a fourth and 10. Freshman Madison Cheney’s quick hands stopped the Charger runner. Graves wasted little time putting another six on the board with 34 seconds remaining in the period. Three straight passes to Cheney set up a one yard run by Graves for the score and a 26-0 lead. The Chargers attempt to get on the board with seconds remaining backfired as Idania Ramirez intercepted another arrant Charger pass giving the Dawgs one more opportunity with seconds left on the clock. Graves hit White for her third T.D. as time ran out giving the Dawgs an insurmountable lead of 33-0 at the break.

The second half of play was anticlimactic as Bulldog coach Joey Bowler emptied his bench giving all his players experience in the trenches. The Chargers cut the Bulldogs lead to 33-7 before Lady Dawg Dylan Bryant scored on a 37 yard reception making the score 39-7. The Chargers would put six more points on the board late with a 60 yard dash for a T.D. ending the game at 39-13. “We had a great first half and our young team keeps getting better,” said Coach Bowler. “Graves threw the ball well and our six freshman starters are getting better every week.”

The Bulldogs league record stands at 4-2 and 6-4 overall keeping them in fourth place and a possible playoff spot. The Bulldogs travel to Western on January 9 and Bonanza on the 16th before returning to host a strong Arbor View squad on January 21.