Middle School Football Action

9/25/08
By: Clint Cox

The Marianna Bullpups traveled to Cottondale and escaped with a 10-0 win over the Baby Hornets. After a scoreless first quarter both team’s defenses continued to keep the other team in check. But late in the first half Marianna Shaundre McAroy bolted 22 yards for a score. Micha Reed added the two point run and Marianna led 8-0 with just over two minutes to play in the half. As the game moved into the third quarter both teams squandered chances to score. Cottondale came up with a big 35 yard pass play from C.J. Smith to Lonnie Johnson. The Hornets then picked up a first down at the Marianna five yard line with 3 minutes to play in the third quarter. But the Bullpup defense held the Hornets out of the endzone and Marianna took over on downs. McAroy then bolted 50 yards and appeared to give Marianna the momentum again. The Bullpups however coughed up the ball on the next play and Cottondale recovered. But the Hornets had to punt as the game moved into the fourth quarter. The Hornets picked off a pass late in the game to keep their hopes alive. Again the Bullpup defense held and a bad snap over the Hornet’s punter resulted in a safety to make it 10-0 in Marianna’s favor.
The Bullpups improved to 4-0 on the season and will host Riverside on Tuesday. Both teams enter that contest unbeaten. Bullpup Head Coach Hunter Nolan tipped his hat to his counterpart. "Coach O’Bert and Cottondale did a great job tonight. They were hungrier than we were and it showed on the field," said Nolan. O’Bert was pleased with the team’s effort, "I thought our kids played hard tonight and I’m proud of them," O’Bert commented. The Hornets fell to 1-2 on the season.
Grand Ridge hit the road to Vernon and lost a heartbreaker by the score of 22-14. The Indians fell behind early 14-0 as the Baby Yellow Jackets jumped out to a quick lead. Late in the first half Wayne Driggers hit Rontravious Brown on a 23 yard pass play and Kyle Commodore converted the two point run to make it 14-8 at the half. Delontre Keys lite up the Indians crowd with a 70 yard kickoff return to open up the second half and tie the game at 14-14. The game remained tied until late in the second half. With less than two minutes to play Grand Ridge had driven deep into Vernon territory. After a run to the Vernon 1 yard line the Indians were flagged with assisting the runner and penalized 15 yards. That drive then stalled and Vernon took over with less than a minute to play on the Yellow Jacket’s 4 yard line. They then drove 96 yards on two plays to score the game winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds to play. With the loss the Indians fell to 1-3 and will host Graceville on Tuesday night.