Quitman records another nail-biter

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 9/22/22

The Quitman Bulldogs survived a late field goal attempt to hold on for a 15-13 win over a tough Ore City team Friday night at the Rebels homecoming.

The Ore City kicker had done a great job on …

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Quitman records another nail-biter

Posted

The Quitman Bulldogs survived a late field goal attempt to hold on for a 15-13 win over a tough Ore City team Friday night at the Rebels homecoming.

The Ore City kicker had done a great job on punts and kick-offs all night long, but his attempt from 37 yards was wide left with 26 seconds left. Bulldog quarterback Kamron Crockett took a knee on the final snap and the Bulldogs moved to 3-1 headed into this week’s district opener at home against Grand Saline.

The Bulldog defense bent a little but would not break and made important stops throughout the game. Quitman had several stops on defense which held Ore City in check. Ethan Presley was once again a force on defense. Presley was in the Rebel backfield all night and made several sacks and tackles behind the line. 

“We were proud our defense stepped up when they needed to. Our kids did what it took to win the game like we did at Kemp,” Head Coach Shane Webber said. “It was their homecoming and they had more to play for. We were just happy to come out on top.”

One of the biggest stops came after Ore City had scored early in the fourth quarter to bring the Rebels within 15-13. Ore City went for the two-point conversion, but Quitman junior Landon Green stopped the runner just short of the goal line.

Green tallied 15 tackles and Justin Matthews had 14 stops while Ethan Presley had two sacks, four tackles for loss, two batted balls and 12 tackles.

“Our secondary did a good job covering their receivers,” Webber said. “Their play gave our linemen and linebackers time to get to the quarterback and force some hurried throws which were not caught.”

On the offensive side, freshman Klayton Meadows had a solid night running for 72 yards in eight carries for a nine-yard average, and Mikey Pickering added 53 yards on seven carries, Carson Dickens seven for 32 yards and Luke Williams’s five totes for 19 yards.

Another key play was Webber’s decision to go for two after Meadows scored with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Crockett tossed a pass to Dickens for the successful point after conversion. That made it 15-0 which ended up being just enough to secure the win.

The Bulldogs took the opening kick-off and drove 70 yards in five plays, scoring on a 43-yard run by Pickering. Carlos Flores added the point after and Quitman led 7-0 with 10:28 still to go in the first quarter. The Bulldogs surprised the Rebels and most of the Quitman crowd when Crockett completed a pass to Brady Floyd for 16 yards on the game’s first play. 

The Bulldogs looked poised for a runaway when they scored again on a 29-yard run by freshman Meadows. The two-point conversion made it 15-0.

Ore City was not to be denied and came back strong, scoring on a 19-yard run making it 15-7. The Rebels scored again in the final quarter, but the Bulldog defense held and the score remained 15-13.

“We are doing what we need to do to win ball games and that is important to us because not every week is going to be a Big Sandy game. We have had the tenacity to be able to overcome adversity and fight for something and that is big for us,” Webber noted.

Webber also credited the Quitman fan base. “Our fans have been really supportive especially at the out of town games. I don’t think our kids realize the effect of what they are doing is having on the community, but it is great to look up and see all those people there supporting you.”

Quitman will open district play Friday at Bud Moody Field against the 2-2 Grand Saline Indians at 7:30 p.m.