Photo By Cpl. Scott Whiting | Frank Bryant, quarterback for the Bulldogs, looks to throw the ball as he scrambles...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Camp Lejeune Bulldogs made quite a statement, Saturday evening, June 16, rolling over the Triangle Nighthawks, out of Raleigh, N.C., and keeping their undefeated record for a week longer.
The Bulldogs went into Saturday’s game with a 2-0 record and came out with a lot of emotion during pregame warm-ups. The start of the game was no different as the Bulldogs received first, and marched right down the field into the end zone with a ferocious running game that the Nighthawks’ defense had no answer for to give them a 6-0 lead.
The team faced an early obstacle as they fumbled a punt return, allowing the Nighthawks to recover the ball with great field position. The defense of the Bulldogs wasn’t phased however, and the quarterback pressure up front, along with a ball hawking secondary, forced the Nighthawks to throw an interception.
The two teams battled back and forth on the ground for the rest of the first quarter, with turnovers on both sides. The score at the close of the first quarter was a 6-0.
The second quarter was a different story, as the Bulldogs’ running game kept pushing the Nighthawks back and keeping them on their toes. Sweeps, tosses, and reverse plays to the outside of the field gave the more athletic Bulldogs a chance to run around the defense. On the inside, the offensive line of the Bulldogs opened up holes all game for running backs to slip through for big gains.
The Nighthawks changed it up halfway through the second quarter, and stopped trying to outrun the Bulldogs, which wasn’t working, and tried passing. Other than a couple big catches by Nighthawks’ receivers, the Bulldogs’ defense caught or swatted down anything the Nighthawks put in the air. Jason Johnson, safety for the Bulldogs, intercepted a Hail Mary pass and returned it for a touchdown as time expired in the second quarter, giving his team a 24-0 lead going into halftime.
The second half was no different for the Nighthawks, unfortunately, as most offensive possessions for them ended with a turnover on downs, an interception or a punt. The Bulldogs defense kept a high level of energy throughout the game, making big plays and hitting hard. They didn’t give the Nighthawks any room to breathe on offense, keeping constant pressure on their quarterback, causing him to scramble, which would either result in a sack or an ill-advised throw. Nells Ayler, defensive lineman for the Bulldogs, and Tristan Wilkerson, linebacker for the Bulldogs, were all over the field Saturday, leading their team with a combined 13 tackles and three sacks.
In the fourth quarter, many of the Bulldogs starters were taken out, and running plays were called to take time off the clock. The defense stayed up-tempo, however, not allowing the Nighthawks to score at all during the game.
P.J. Thomas, running back for the Bulldogs, kept the Nighthawks defense running around trying to catch him, rushing for 98 yards on only 6 attempts, giving him an average of more than 16 yards per carry.
Kent Onuoha, cornerback for the Bulldogs, was a force to be reckoned with on special teams, racking up 137 yards on 4 returns, including a punt return for a touchdown in the second half.
John Glaister, defense coordinator for the Bulldogs, said they expect to make a big impact in the Gridiron Developmental Football League, and hope to make a long run when the playoffs come around at the end of the season.
The Bulldogs came into the game ranked 19th nationally in the GDFL and can expect to possibly move up a spot or two with Saturday’s win.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.28.2012 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 90769 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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