Bulldog defense shuts down Grizzlies in second half giving the Dawgs a hard earned 20-19 victory. (File photo)
By Lou Martin
In their final tune up for the two most important football games of the season, the Virgin Valley High School Bulldogs struck late Friday night on an 8 yard run by Wyatt Delano to defeat the Spring Valley High School Grizzlies 20-19. Delano led the rushing attack with 121 yards on 22 tough carries and two T.D.’ Quarterback Meb Hollingshead passed for 81 yards on 4 of 13 attempts and a T.D. The Bulldogs were out distanced in overall yardage 352-231by the Grizzlies one of the lowest offensive output of the season by the Dawgs.
The Bulldogs struck first on a Hollingshead 26 yard strike to Jake Hampstead with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter. Tanner Shepherd’s point after split the uprights to give the Dawgs the lead 7-0. The Grizzlies countered through the air on a Frank Bartley 56 yard pass to Marco Godinez. The point after was good tying the game up 7-7 with 2:41 remaining in the period. Delano put the Dawgs up 13-7 midway through the second period bulling his way from 8 yards out. Shepherd’s point after made it 14-7. A good kickoff by the Dawgs set the scene for the Grizzlies next offensive series. The Bartley-Godinez combo struck quickly for an 89 yard T.D. The extra point try failed and the Dawgs still led 14-13. The Bulldogs were held on the next possession giving the ball back to the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies didn’t waste any time scoring their third touchdown of the first half on a 20 yard pass from Bartley to Jonathon Vasquez with 1:21 left on the clock and a 19-14 lead. The second half of the game was a defensive struggle setting up the Dawgs final drive and Delano’s heroics with 1:09 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs two point extra point pass failed keeping the score 20-19. The Bulldogs held the Grizzlies to insure the win. “It was a bitter sweet win for us,” said bulldog coach Matt Woods. “We lost running back Tanner Fielding for the rest of the year with a broken collarbone. He had just recovered from a knee injury. Spring Valley had a lot of speed and we scrambled to contain them in the first half. But we made some adjustments and shut them out in the second half. We are not a flashy team and throw the ball a lot. We are just going to lineup and punch them out on the ground for four quarters. Who, is standing at the end, wins.” The win gives the Bulldogs a 1-1 league record and 7-1 overall. The Dawgs face another tough passing team, Sunrise Mountain next Friday Oct. 12 on the hill. (see preview of game)
