The Amherst Bulldogs’ varsity football team traveled to Dawson on Thursday to take on the Dragons. The game was called at halftime, after the second quarter had to be finished with teams playing four on four due to Dawson running out of healthy players. The Bulldogs took the contest, 30-0.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-1 overall on the year.
Dawson got the ball to start the game, covering an onside kick from Uriah Clark. However, the Bulldogs were called for being offsides on the kick-off moving the ball up to the Dragons 33-yard line to begin their first drive.
A first down run by the Dragons was stuffed in the backfield by Clark and Oscar Contreras for a four-yard loss and a fumbled snap on second down was covered by Devon Armendariz, as Kevin Garcia was bringing pressure up the middle. The Dragons would not be able to get anything going, as Armendariz punted the ball away two plays later with 8:24 to play in the opening quarter.
Amherst took over at their own 35-yard line, as Joel Garcia took the snap, pitching the ball back to Kevin Garcia, who sprinted up field, cutting it out to the right side, on his way to a 45-yard touchdown run with 8:14 to play in the first quarter. The kick from Aiden Rodriguez was good, making the score, 8-0.
The kick-off from Clark rolled out of bounds, giving the Dragons the ball at their own 34-yard line to begin their next drive. Dawson would pick up five yards on third down, as Armendariz completed a pass to Matthew Bara, bringing up fourth and 10 from just inside midfield. However, on fourth down Armendariz would roll out and throw the ball out of bounds, as he was pressured by Flores, turning the ball over on downs with 6:34 to play in the quarter.
The Bulldogs took over at the Dawson 39-yard line, as Joel Garcia dropped back on first down and fired a pass to Rodriguez, but the ball fell incomplete. On the very next play, Kevin Garcia would take a carry around the right side, blazing up the sideline for a 39yard touchdown run with 6:16 to play in the quarter. The kick from Rodriguez was good, making the score, 16-0.
Kevin Garcia booted the ball into the endzone on the kick off for a touchback, giving Dawson the ball on their own 20-yard line, and the Dragons would push the ball into Amherst territory, but on third and 10 from the Bulldog 32yard line, the Dragons had the ball stripped out by Kevin Garcia and it was recovered by the Bulldogs for a turnover with 4:02 to play in the quarter.
Amherst took over at their own 34-yard line, as Kevin Garcia car ried the ball on the first play of the Amherst senior, Kevin Garcia, catches a pass and turns it up field for a 46-yard touchdown, as the Bulldogs took down Dawson on the road, 30-0, on Thursday night. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez) drive, picking up 12 yards up the middle before being brought down by Donovan Moreno. The Bulldogs were flagged for a false start on the next play, backing them up to second and eight, but Kevin Garcia would carry the ball again, this time around the left side, taking it down to the 20-yard line of the Dragons to set them up with a fresh set of downs.
On first down, Joel Garcia dropped back and connected with Guillermo Pacheco, who caught the ball and turned it up field, but had it punched out from behind and it was recovered by the Dragons with 2:18 remaining in the quarter.
Dawson would not be able to capitalize, as they were forced to punt the ball away from their own 12-yard line with 1:31 to play in the quarter.
Amherst took over in Dawson territory at the 34-yard line, as Joel Garcia dropped back and hit Rodriguez with a pass on the right side, as he took it to the house for the 34-yard touchdown. The kick from Rodriguez was no good, making the score, 24-0, with 1:18 to play in the first quarter.
The Dragons’ offense took over after the touchback from Kevin Garcia on the kick off, but on third and 10, Armendariz was picked off by Contreras to end the quarter.
Amherst turned the ball over on downs to begin the second frame, but with 4:53 remaining in the half, Armendariz was picked off in the end zone by Joel Garcia, who returned it down the Dragons sideline for a pick-six, however the play was negated by a block in the back penalty on Rodriguez, bringing the ball back to their own 34yard line.
Two plays later, Joel Garcia connected with Kevin Garcia on a short pass to his left, as Kevin Garcia turned it up field, making a man miss on his way to a 46-yard touchdown. The kick from Rodriguez was no good, as Amherst went on to defeat the Dragons, 30-0.
Amherst will take on Patton Springs next Friday for Homecoming.
Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.