The Virgin Valley High School Bulldog football team continued their winning ways on the back of running back Wyatt Delano and a dominating offensive line as they defeated Democracy Prep out of Las Vegas 33-18. Delano ran for 320 yards on 33 carries for three touchdowns. The Bulldog offensive line opened massive holes for Delano.” Our line was dominate , I think sometimes he was out 7 yards before a Blue Knight touched him,” said Coach Matt Woods. “Wyatt looks for contact and he wears defenses down. “

The Dawgs received the short opening kickoff and marched down field with Delano going in for the initial T.D. Exchange student Tanner Shepherd’s point after kick was good giving the Dawgs a 7-0 lead after 5:30 minutes of play. The Blue Knights Keionte Scott brought the Dawgs ensuing kickoff back for 39 yards to their 49yard line. Quarterback Micah Gayman’s attempted 8 passes in a row before he was sacked by Delano turning the ball back to the Dawgs on their 32 yard line. The Bulldogs marched to the Blue Knights 35 yard line as the first period expired. Delano carried six times going in from the one making the score 13-0. Shepherd’s PAT was good as the Dawgs seemed to be dominating play. The Blue Knights were not dead as they went 85 yards on three pass plays cutting the Dawgs lead to 14-6. The Bulldogs responded with their two minute drill going 65 yards in 8 plays.the final a 10 yard T.D. pass from Mebs Hollingshead to wide out Vicente Pinto upping the Dawgs lead to 21-6 with 1:06 remaining in the first half of play. The Blue Knights shocked the Bulldog faithful, scoring a T.D 22 seconds later, cutting the Bulldog lead to 21-14. Hollingshead long pass attempt into the end zone was intercepted as time ran out. To everyone’s surprise after one half of play, the Blue Knights were staying with the dawgs.

Bulldog Wyatt Delano #44 runs through a big hole on his way to a long gainer during the Bulldogs 33-18 win over Democracy Prep Friday Sept.14 in the Dawg Pound. Delano finished with 320 yards on the ground.
Photo by Lou Martin

The Blue Knights received the second half opening kickoff on their 32 yard line and proceeded to bombard the Dawgs with passes. Two big sacks by the Bulldogs Stetson Ludvigson and Jeremy Perkins gave the Dawgs the ball on their 22 yard line. Delano went 72 yards punishing the Blue Knights defenders along the way giving the Dawgs a first and goal from the six. Hollingshead was dropped for a two yard loss and Delano lost one yard up the middle setting up a third and nine. An 8 yard pass completion set up Hollingshead’s one yard keeper for the T.D. making the score 21-12 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Bulldog defense kept the Blue Knights passing attack at bay as the third period ended. Two Bulldog fumbles, at the end of the third period and start of the fourth prevented the Dawgs from increasing their lead. A Blue Knight 27 yard completion from Gayman to Ramon Green gave the Knights a first down on the Dawgs 38 yard line. Gayman was injured on the play and would not return. The Bulldogs defense were not prepared for a ‘Wildcat Offense’ as Blue Knight Amar Smith faked a step back and ran 38 yards for the score cutting the Dawgs lead to 27-18 with nine minutes remaining in the game. Delano would finally settle the battle carrying the ball seven straight times for 78 yards total and a T.D. making the final score 33-18. “The game was closer than it should have been,” said Bulldog coach Woods after the game, “We had a bad week of practice which was my fault as I allowed midseason doldrums to set in. Our Defensive backs did not finish plays which kept them (Blue Knights) in the game. We have a short week as we play next Thursday at Boulder City in a televised game. We will practice tomorrow, Saturday to make up for the short week.” The Eagles game will be the first 3A Sunrise League game for the Bulldogs.