Bulldog defense prevents Hermits’ blowout

DECATUR — Friday the 13th was indeed unlucky for the Decatur Bulldogs when they faced the Hermitage Hermits in the Bulldogs’ third eight-man football contest of the 2019 season.

Hermitage’s junior and senior high teams, coaching staff, cheer team and fans made the 331-mile, five-hour journey to Decatur for both a junior high and varsity football at Bulldog Stadium Sept. 13.

The first quarter of the varsity game turned out to be more of a defensive game, with both Decatur and Hermitage holding each other at bay for the 12-minute quarter. As the sun was setting over Decatur, the second quarter looked much the same until around the 6-minute mark when a handoff from Hermit quarterback Braden Harrod to Ean Maxwell led to a 12-yard run and a touchdown. The Hermitage two-point conversion attempt failed, making it a 6-0 Hermit contest.

With two minutes remaining in the first half, a short pass by Bulldog Bryson Funk to Kevin Sanchez resulted in a 50-yard touchdown for Decatur. But a personal foul near the line of scrimmage negated the touchdown, sending the Bulldogs deep into Hermit territory. Time expired in the first half before Decatur was able to score.

Two minutes into the third quarter, a Harrod to Maxwell handoff at the Bulldog 45 yard line resulted in a 55-yard touchdown for the Hermits, extending the lead to 12. The conversion attempt on a Harrod pass to Alan McGhee failed on a great goal-line stand by Decatur.

Hermitage made one final touchdown on a quarterback keeper by Harrod, making it an 18-0 contest. Once again a great goal-line defense by Decatur stopped Hermitage’s two-point conversion attempt.

With time winding down, Funk sustained a minor injury and was replaced by backup quarterback Sam Philpott who drove the Bulldogs to the Hermits’ 10-yard line. But time expired in the game, ending Philpott’s drive. The Hermitage Hermits took the conference win, 18-0, over the Decatur Bulldogs.

Decatur had two outstanding players in this week’s contest, Seth Coleman and Kevin Sanchez. Coleman intercepted a Harrod pass near Decatur’s 20-yard line, ending a Hermit drive. He also pulled down two receptions during the first half and one in the second. In addition to Sanchez’s touchdown attempt, he was instrumental in several defensive plays that prevented the contest from becoming a blowout.

Before the varsity game, the junior high Bulldogs faced off with the Hermits. Hermitage Junior High took the contest, 40-6, over the Decatur Bulldog junior high. Decatur’s Bryan Ruiz scored the only touchdown. Ruiz tried for a twopoint conversion but was knocked out of bounds just shy of the goal line.

The Decatur dogs will be on the road Sept. 20 to face off against the Rich Hill/ Hume Tigers in Rich Hill, Mo., in a 7 p.m. contest.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Kevin Sanchez (left) forces the ball out of the hands of a Hermits’ player during the Friday Decatur-Hermitage football game at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur. The ball was originally fumbled by the Hermit quarterback and passed through several players’ hands before Hermitage finally recovered it.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Bulldog Seth Coleman (4) pulls down a pass at the Hermit 45-yard line during the first quarter of the Decatur-Hermitage football contest in Decatur on Friday. Coleman managed five yards before stepping out of bounds.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After pulling down an interception at the 11-yard line, Bulldog Seth Coleman tries for the end zone during the Decatur-Hermitage conference football contest at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur on Friday. Coleman was tackled by the Hermits’ receiver near the 9-yard line.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A pass from Bryson Funk (Decatur 12) to Kevin Sanchez (22) sails through the air during the third quarter of the Decatur-Hermitage eightman football game Friday at Bulldog Stadium in Decatur. Funk’s pass hit its mark and Sanchez carried it to a first down.