Bulldog quarterback Hogan Fowles #11 throws an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brayton Hampsten in the right corner of the end zone giving the Dawgs an early 6-0 lead in their first game of the season against Cedar City, UT High School, Friday, Aug. 26. Photo by Lou Martin

Bulldog quarterback Hogan Fowles #11 throws an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brayton Hampsten in the right corner of the end zone giving the Dawgs an early 6-0 lead in their first game of the season against Cedar City, UT High School, Friday, Aug. 26. Photo by Lou Martin

The Virgin Valley High School football team jumped out to an early 6-0 lead against the Redmen from Cedar City (Utah) High School Friday night, Aug. 26 before losing 34-13. The Bulldogs had no answer for Redmen quarterback Mason Fakahua who carved up the Bulldog defense with pinpoint passing and quick feet. Fakahua passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the Redmen.

The Bulldogs, behind a game opening 50-yard kickoff return by the speedy Jarrett Tietjen, drove the length of the field for the first score of the game. Bulldog quarterback Hogan Fowles hit Brayton Hampsten in the right corner of the end zone for the T.D. The point after sailed wide, giving the Dawgs a 6-0 lead after four minutes of play.

The Redmen took the ensuing kickoff and marched to the Bulldog 33-yard line before defensive back Cade Anderson stepped in front of a Fakahua pass for a pick giving the Dawgs the ball on their own 10-yard line. The Bulldog offense responded with a 28 yard reception by Tietjen which was negated by a holding call on the Dawgs moving the ball back to the seven yard line. Workhorse Jayden Perkins ran for 13 yards on two carries giving the Bulldogs first on their own 22-yard line. The first period ended with the Dawgs up 6-0.

The Redmen’s defense stiffened dropping Fowles for a 7-yard loss back to the 15-yard line forcing a Bulldog punt. The punt traveled all of 15 yards giving the Redmen field advantage. Fakahua responded with his first T.D. pass of 30 yards. The point after was good giving the Cedar City squad a 7-6 lead they would never relinquish.

The teams battled evenly much of the second period with hard hitting defensive play on both sides of the ball. Yellow flags seemed to rain down from the refs curtailing drives by the teams. The Redmen got a huge break with a little over a minute remaining in the half. A Redmen 54-yard punt sailed over a Bulldog dropping dead on the Dawgs 4-yard line. A run for no-gain, a questionable pass and a fumble forced a Bulldog punt from their own end zone. The punt went out of bounds on the Dawgs 25-yard line setting up Fakahua’s second T.D. pass of the game and a 13-6 Cedar City advantage at the break.

The third period was all Redmen as Fakahura ran for a 33 yard T.D. and Zack Ragsdale took one over from 20 yards out giving the Redmen an insurmountable lead of 27-6. Despite the hard running by Bulldog Perkins, the Dawgs had a hard time controlling the ball. Fakahua finished the Redman scoring with a 61 yard jaunt through the Bulldog defense and a 34-6 lead. The Dawgs managed to put up a final score with four minutes remaining on a Fowles pass to big Reid Jensen.

“It was our first time out,” said Bulldog coach Yori Ludvigson. “We didn’t execute well and gave up field position to a good Utah team. We will do a better job against Sunrise Mountain next week.”

The Dawgs travel to face the Miners and former Bulldog coach Chris Sawyers next Friday. It could be a tough test for the Dawgs who were upset by the Miners last year. The Miners blew out Boulder City in their opener and are considered a playoff team.