Turnovers, Roughneck’s run game hurt Bulldogs in second straight loss

  • Kennan Dilworth (9) attempts to race past Roughneck players. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    Kennan Dilworth (9) attempts to race past Roughneck players. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
  • Trae Cuellar leaps over a Columbia High Roughneck football player Sept. 20. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    Trae Cuellar leaps over a Columbia High Roughneck football player Sept. 20. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.

    The Yoakum High School Bulldogs traveled to West Columbia this Sept. 20 night to play the Columbia High Roughnecks.

    The Bulldogs started off the game with a bang as Trae Cuellar took the opening kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown. Columbia used a pounding rushing attack to control the clock and turnovers by the Bulldogs contributed to the Roughnecks victory 43-28, giving Yoakum a 1-2 record.

    The Bulldogs began the game with Cuellar’s 60-yard kick return touchdown. Following the Bulldogs’ score, the Roughnecks took over at their 37-yard line and used nine plays, utilizing the running game, a theme for the night, to drive down the field for a touchdown. A failed extra point gave the Bulldogs a one point advantage 7-6 with 6:52 in the first quarter.

    The Bulldog offense needed only three plays on their next possession to go down the field with Donovan Toussaint slashing through the Columbia defense for a 52-yard touchdown run. The extra point tacked on gave the Bulldogs a 14-6 edge with 5:04 left in the first quarter. After a Columbia turnover on downs caused by a sack made by Cayson Gamez, the Bulldogs took over at the Columbia 49. The Bulldogs offense would drive down to the Roughnecks’ 30, but failed on a fourth-down attempt. The Roughnecks got a big 75-yard run to bring them down to the Bulldogs’ 19 where they finished off the drive after two more plays with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

    Following a successful two point conversion, the game was tied at 14 with 8:04 left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs’ next possession would begin deep in Columbia territory following a kick return, but it would be short as a fumble would give the Roughnecks the ball back at their 9. The Roughnecks could not take advantage as the Bulldogs defense forced a punt. After a Yoakum punt, the Bulldogs forced a turnover by Columbia and set up shop at the Roughnecks’ 18. The Bulldogs needed only two plays to find the end zone with Cuellar rushing in from 13 yards out to give the Bulldogs the lead 21-14 following the extra point. Columbia drove down the field starting from their 40 to score before halftime. After a successful two-point conversion, the Roughnecks led Yoakum 22-21 with 26 seconds left in the first half.

    Columbia’s first possession of the second half began at their 27 and ended at the Bulldogs’ 39 after a fumble was recovered by Ryder Harris. The Bulldogs gave the ball right back after two plays when they fumbled, leading to a Columbia recovery. Now taking over at the Yoakum 36, they took advantage of this miscue using four plays to extend their lead. The Roughnecks led Yoakum 30-21 with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.

    Yoakum not to be deterred, needed one play to strike back. The Bulldogs started at their 44 used a quick strike over the middle from Cuellar to X’Zavier Barnett for the 56-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Bulldogs narrowed the lead 30-28 with 6:05 remaining in the third quarter. Columbia’s next drive would end in a touchdown, needing seven plays and over four minutes. The Roughnecks would lead now 37-28 with 2:11 left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs punted on their next possession, giving the Roughnecks the ball at their 20. This possession by Coumbia used more than 10 minutes of the clock and 15 plays to play keep away from the Bulldogs’ offense.

    Columbia would score a rushing touchdown from 4 yards to extend the lead further 43-28 following a missed extra point with only 2:54 remaining in the game. Yoakum’s last possession began at the Columbia 49 and ended on a fourth-down pass that fell incomplete giving the Roughnecks the chance to kneel to end the game.