Bulldog hopes for opening game win dashed by Engineers

DECATUR — The cheerleaders were jumping, the band was playing and the fans were pumped as the Decatur Bulldogs hit the field at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur Aug. 30 for the opening of the 2019 eight-man football season against the Watts, Okla., Engineers. But the Bulldogs’ hopes for a victory were quickly dashed as the Engineers ran away with the contest by 36 points.

Watts was the first to score in the first quarter on an intercepted Decatur pass at midfield for six. A short throw by the Engineer quarterback to his outside running back connected for a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead. Watts crossed the end zone on its next possession for another touchdown. The conversion added another eight for a 16-0 lead.

Decatur got on the scoreboard on a 50-yard run by cornerback Sam Philpott for a touchdown. The conversion by Carlos Hernandez made it 16-8.

Another touchdown and conversion by Watts at the end of the first quarter made it a 24-8 contest.

Watts opened the second quarter with another touchdown and conversion to extend its lead by 24.

A short time later, a 60yard run on a quarterback keeper by Bryson Funk and conversion by Seth Coleman cut the Engineers’ lead to 16. Watts added another touchdown but missed the conversion attempt to end the first half, 38-16.

A touchdown and conversion by Kevin Sanchez in the third quarter were the only points Decatur put on the scoreboard in the second half. The Watts Engineers added 22 points to win the contest, 60-24, over the Decatur Bulldogs.

The Decatur Bulldogs hit the road Sept. 6 to knock helmets with the Woodlawn Bears in a 7 p.m. contest in Rison.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Bulldogs’ Kevin Sanchez outruns an Engineer defender on his way to the endzone for a touchdown during the Aug. 30 Decatur-Watts (Okla.) eight-man football contest at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS With Kevin Sanchez (22) running interference, Bulldog quarterback Bryson Funk runs to the outside for a first down during the Decatur-Watts (Okla.) football game at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur Aug. 30. Watts handed Decatur its first defeat of the 2019 season, 60-24.