UMS-Wright won their Region 1 opener at home against Leflore 13-6.  The Bulldogs are 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Region play after the win over the Rattlers.  UMS-Wright travels to Gulf Shores this Friday for a matchup with the Dolphins.

Region 1 Scores from 9/8

UMS-Wright 13 - Leflore 6

Gulf Shores 31 - Faith Academy 16

Vigor 34 - Citronelle 28

Williamson 39 - Elberta 12

B.C. Rain - BYE

Region 1 Standings

Game Recap

UMS-Wright scored on their opening drive to take an early 6-0 lead.  The Bulldogs 2nd drive ended with turnover on downs deep in Leflore territory, and the defense held the Rattlers scoreless in the first half.  The Rattlers tied the game at 6-6 in the 3rd quarter before the Bulldogs answered with a touchdown drive to end the quarter with a 13-6 lead.  The Bulldogs had another long drive end with a turnover near the Leflore goal line, but the defense held to end the game and secure the victory.

1st Quarter

UMS-Wright took their opening drive 54 yards to score a touchdown.  Bo Wills returned the kickoff to the Bulldog 46 yard line before ripping off a 6 yard run for a first down into Leflore territory.  Joe Lott hit Denton Elliott on a swing pass for an 8 yard completion, and then Lott converted a 3rd & 1 for another first down.  Elliott had a nice gain on a sweep that picked up an extra 15 yards after Leflore was hit with a personal foul.  Lott scored from 6 yards out to put the Bulldogs ahead, but the PAT was no good.

The Bulldogs put together another strong drive that started at their own 40 yard line.  Joe Lott completed a 17 yard pass to Denton Elliott for a first down, then Elliott converted a 4th and 3 with a 6 yard run.  On 3rd and 8, Lott found Ty Yance across the middle for a 10 yard gain and another first down.  The drive would end on a 4th and goal from the 2 yard line when Lott mishandled the snap and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs.

End 1^st Quarter

UMS-W 6

Leflore 0

2^nd Quarter

The Rattlers started at their own 7 yard line and used their passing attack to pick up two first downs.  Facing a 3rd and 7 near midfield, C.J. Stewart rushed around the right edge for a strip sack fumble that was recovered by McNeil Mostellar.  On the next drive, a sack put the Bulldogs behind the chains and punted after a 3 and out.  Leflore started at their own 13 yard line, and out to the 27 after a facemask penalty was called against the Bulldogs.  The Rattlers picked up another first down through the air, but on 1st and 10 the Leflore QB made an illegal backwards pass out of bounds due to a QB hurry from Anderson Bassett.  Leflore punted and UMS-Wright had the ball at their own 46 yard line.  A big gainer from Lott to Elliott was called back on a holding penalty, but Will Taylor's booming punt pinned the Rattlers back deep.  Mac McGinley ended the half sacking the Rattler's QB and the Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead into the locker room.

Halftime

UMS-W 6

Leflore 0

3^rd Quarter

The Rattlers and Bulldogs traded 3 and outs to start the second half.  On Leflore's second drive of the half, Charlie Jeffery appears to intercept a pass down the right sideline, but Leon Rocker came up with the ball and ran it down inside the Bulldogs 5 yard line.  One official signaled Bulldog's ball on the sideline, but they conferred and determined that the call was defensive pass interference, setting up a 4 yard TD run from the Rattler's Montrell Scott.  The PAT was no good and the score was tied 6-6.  

The two teams again traded 3 and outs, but Lott's long punt return set the Bulldogs up inside the red zone. Lott picked up another 13 yards on 1st and 10, and Jake Jaye would punch it in from the 7 yard line for the go ahead score.  Kingston Phan's PAT was good, and the Bulldogs took a 13-6 lead into the 4th quarter.

End 3rd Quarter 

UMS-W 13

Leflore 6

4th Quarter

Leflore started at their own 42 yard line after a nice return, and completed a pass into Bulldog territory.  Perry Hand came up with a big sack, but the Rattlers converted on 3rd and 16.  Leflore picked up another first down on the ground before Caplyn Reed's interception ended the drive. The Bulldogs were looking to put the game away and put together a sustained drive that covered most of the field.  Wills and Elliott both had productive plays in the run game, and Lott completed passes to Elliott and Camden Taylor.  The drive ended with a fumble on the 2 yard line.  Leflore had one more opportunity to score but faced a 98 yard field.  James Scott knocked a 4th and 10 pass out of the air to secure the win for the Bulldogs.

Final

UMS-W 13

Leflore 6

Plays of the Game

Offense: Dealing with an injured hand, Jake Jaye had not played in the first two games.  On his first play of the season, Jaye punched in the go ahead touchdown on a 7 yard run late in the 4th quarter.

Defense: With a touchdown lead and Leflore driving inside the Bulldog 20 early in the 4th quarter, Caplyn Reed intercepted a pass from Leflore QB Joshua Scott to end the threat.  

Team Totals

Total Plays

UMS-W 52

Leflore 49

Total Yards

UMS-W 192

Leflore 136

Rushing Yards

UMS-W 132

Leflore 42

Passing Yards

UMS-W 60

Leflore 94

First Downs

UMS-W 12

Leflore 11

Third Downs

UMS-W 4-10 (40%)

Leflore 3-11 (27%)

Turnovers

UMS-W 1

Leflore 2

Penalties

UMS-W 4 for 36 yards

Leflore 5 for 41 yards

Stat Leaders

Rushing

Wills: 12 Carries - 46 yds

Elliott: 6 Carries - 43 yds

Lott: 15 Carries - 31 yds - TD

Jaye: 1 Carry - 7 yds - TD

Passing

Lott: 6 for 10 - 60 yds

Receiving

Elliott: 4 receptions - 40 yds

Yance: 1 reception - 10 yds

C. Taylor: 1 reception - 10 yds

Defense

Jeff Holston: 11 tackles - TFL

Perry Hand: 8 tackles - TFL - Sack

C.J. Stewart: 7 tackles - Sack

Caplyn Reed: 8 tackles - INT

William Tanner: 6 tackles

McNeil Mostellar: 6 tackles - TFL - Fumble recovery

Special Teams

Kingston Phan: 1 for 2 PAT

Will Taylor: 47 yd punting average - Long 48

From the Coaches

Coach Dean on the Offense: 

We certainly did not play the way we had hoped to play, and we did not play the way we practiced.  We took the first drive down the field and scored.  The second drive we turned the ball over on downs on the 2 yard line, and never regained a rhythm after that.  For whatever reason we quit playing with technique, and it showed with the results.  One positive was our outside zone scheme, which was improved from week 2.  Turnovers and penalties are once again killing us and killing drives.  To be able to compete this week we must play with technique and win the turnover and penalty battle.

 

Coach Koziol on the Defense:

We were sloppy and inconsistent defensively.  We've got several guys playing hard and with good effort, but our overall execution as a unit still has to improve.  On plays where we have breakdowns, it's generally bad eye discipline, not covering our threats or losing contain.  It will be a major point of emphasis this week in practice. There's nothing more frustrating than allowing 3rd and 4th down conversions when the percentages are in our favor.  We've just got to do a better job in those situations moving forward.  

Next Up:

The Bulldogs travel to Gulf Shores to take on the undefeated Dolphins on Friday,  September 15th.