Bulldogs run over Wolverines

Gordon Casteel rushed 12 times for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Rossville Bulldogs moved to 2-0 with a 24-14 home win over Dade County this past Thursday.

After forcing a turnover on downs at the their own 29 to start the game, the Bulldogs struck quickly as Dewayne Thomas ran for a 59-yard touchdown on Rossville’s third play from scrimmage. A failed conversion kept the score at 6-0.

But it wouldn’t stay that way for long. The Bulldogs couldn’t pick up a first down after recovering an onside kick, but after a Wolverine punt, Chase Watkins hit Jaycob Ross on a 55-yard scoring strike to increase the lead to 12-0.

Rossville would turn back Dade County on a fourth down play from the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line to end the half.

Casteel and Watkins moved the ball on the ground to start the second half with Casteel scoring from 21 yards out to complete a sevenplay, 53-yard drive. Watkins then came up with a fourth down sack at the Rossville 30 and the Bulldogs countered with a clock-chewing eight-play, 63-yard drive to put the game away. Casteel had five carries on the march for 53 yards, capping things with a 3-yard TD.

The Wolverines made the score respectable with two scores in the final seconds. Dade scored on a 33-yard TD pass and made the 2-point conversion. Then, after the Bulldogs fumbled the kickoff, the Wolverines scooped it up and returned it for a final score on the game’s final play.

Thomas went for 65 yards on three carries, while Watkins and Ross hooked up twice for 67 yards. Watkins also had eight tackles and a sack, while Chris Maddaeux recorded four tackles and a sack.

“Dade County has some tough, wellcoached kids who played hard,” Rossville head coach Steve Lewis said. “Fortunately, Coach (Ronnie) Massey picked up on some defensive moves Dade did and that allowed us to control the ball and the clock. From there, Gordon and Chase were able to make some physical runs for us that changed the tempo and allowed us to take over.”

Rossville will try to stay unbeaten as they play at Lakeview on Thursday. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m.