The Quitman Bulldogs gave the homecoming crowd at Bud Moody Stadium plenty to cheer for Friday with a 30-8 victory over the visiting Ore City Rebels.

Time of possession doesn’t determine a game’s winner, but when it’s as lopsided as Quitman’s 34 minutes to just 14 for Ore  City, it can indicate a game well under control. Controlling the clock and game is a main goal for the Bulldogs, to limit their opponents’ big play potential, according to head coach Shane Webber. With 20 first downs gained to just six allowed, they achieved it against the Rebels.

Quitman’s grinding offense churned out 361 yards, 275 on the ground, averaging 5.6 yards-per-carry. The offensive line continued to show out for a second straight week, creating running lanes for Klayton Meadows who carried 17 times for 124 yards, while Landon Green added 75 yards on 16 rushes.

Kameron Crockett threw 5-7 for 86 yards, 79 of those to Meadows. Mickey Pickering had the rest, for the lone receiving touchdown.

Quitman scored on all four possessions in the first half to take a 23-8 lead.

Ore City’s only score came on their second possession, on a pass thrown up on a free play when the Bulldogs had jumped offsides. Webber wants to clean up the penalties, a key to stopping drives on defense, which they did the rest of the night.

Penalties stalled Quitman’s next two offensive drives, which accounted for all but 73 seconds of the third quarter.

A turnover to open the fourth gave the Rebels life. They were driving before penalties bit them back twice.

The Bulldogs took advantage to flip the momentum right back with an offensive attack featuring Meadows with a strong cutback for a first down, a quick out route ending with a face-mask setting up first and goal, and a dive play for the game’s final score.

Momentum is huge, especially in high school football, says Webber. “Having the chance to come back out, go back at them, keep the ball away from them and drive it down their throats is kind of demoralizing and takes that momentum away.”

He thinks the program is moving in the right direction and says the kids, “want to be good – they’ve always wanted to be good.” Now that things are turning around, there’s buy-in and people are excited.

At the pep rally on the courthouse square Friday afternoon, Webber told the crowd that regardless of what changes, that the, “community spirit, our love for this town, and our love for the kids,” stays the same.

With that backing, Friday’s game wasn’t a perfect win, but it was solid, almost dominant. For the Quitman faithful, it may have seemed like a long journey to get here, but something that seemed merely possible in recent seasons is closer to becoming a reality.

Next step: make the playoffs. The test to achieve that preseason goal begins Friday in the district opener at Grand Saline.

Webber can tell the Indians are in the weight room, so expect a physical battle in the trenches, where creating running lanes like the last two weeks will be a challenge. Pressure and contain of their talented quarterback by Quitman’s quick front four defenders will prove key.