Yoakum football: Dogs beat PL Calhoun 28-21 for first win

By Alvin Gomez/Special to the Herald-Times

The Yoakum Bulldogs were once again road warriors, this time battling the Calhoun Sandcrabs in Port Lavaca.
The Bulldogs were able to secure their first victory of the season in a close game 28-21.
After a lengthy Bulldogs drive only 15 seconds remained for Calhoun to try to tie the game. The Sandcrabs started at their own 14-yard line with no timeouts. The Bulldogs defense was able to hold off Calhoun's last efforts with a game-ending tackle by Drake Deel to run the clock out.
The Sandcrabs received the opening kickoff but could not put together a scoring drive punting to the Dogs who began their drive at their own 5. The Bulldogs would push out to their own 40 but no further. The snap on the ensuing punt attempt would go over the head of Ty Gordon and put the Sandcrabs in prime position to cash in, but they would give the ball right back to the Dogs on a fumble recovered by Will Robbins.
Yoakum could not capitalize on the turnover going three and out. The Sandcrabs though once again would put the ball on the ground on their first play from scrimmage as Bruno Gonzales recovered the loose ball at the Bulldogs' 35. The Bulldogs once again were forced to punt after a short drive ending the first quarter in a 0-0 tie.
The second quarter would see three lead changes as Yoakum would strike first on a 20-yard passing touchdown by Ty Gordon to Kadarius Price. After a failed extra point the score would be 6-0. The Sandcrabs answered back quickly with a two-play scoring drive capped off by a 71- yard touchdown pass with a successful extra point bringing the score to 7-6. Not to be outdone the Bulldogs offense made quick work of their next scoring drive needing only one play. Ty Gordon connected with Kadarius Price who sprinted through the Sandcrabs defense untouched for a 40-yard touchdown. The Mark Sanchez extra point once again put the Bulldogs ahead 14-7 which would remain the score going into halftime.
The Bulldogs in the third quarter tacked on another touchdown by Gordon. This time the junior quarterback would use his legs as he maneuvered through the Sandcrabs' defense from 15 yards for a touchdown. The successful extra point by Sanchez increased the Dogs' lead 21-7. Calhoun would not go away once more hitting pay dirt with a quick ,one-play drive as they ran it in from 72 yards out for the score. The Bulldogs lead would then be 21-14 to the end of the third quarter.
Yoakum would score its final touchdown of the night on a shifty 32 yard run by Trae Cuellar. Sanchez tacking on the extra point brought the game to 28-14 with 6:55 remaining.
Calhoun's final touchdown drive would follow the Dogs' score as they marched down the field in five plays starting at their own 31. A 34- yard touchdown pass would cap the drive off and the extra point would bring the score to 28-21.
The Bulldogs will be celebrating Homecoming this upcoming week against Gonzales at Bulldog Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM.
For Yoakum, Gordon threw for 72 yards and two touchdowns and was the leading rusher with 75 yards. Donovan Toussaint ran for 69 yards. Price had two catches for 60 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Will Robbins had seven tackles; Tyjuan Garza, Jayden Jones, Tim Donihoo and Deel had four tackles each; Tre Cuellar and Gonzales had three tackles; Jamar Hopkins, Qyion Williams, Price and Toussaint had two tackles; CaysonFishbeck and Chomout added one tackle each.