The Sudan Hornets won a shootout on the road over the Tahoka Bulldogs on Friday, 67-60.
With the win, the Hornets improve to 1-1 overall on the season.
The Hornets totaled 792 yards of offense, including 287 passing yards and 505 rushing yards.
Ruben Arguello got the game going for Tahoka, rushing for a 58yard touchdown that was followed with the PAT from Oscar Rendon, making the score, 7-0. Sudan, though, would answer with a fouryard touchdown run, but the PAT from Caleb Groetken was no good, leaving the score, 7-6, in favor of the Bulldogs.
Tahoka responded, as Brogan Stone connected with Cayden Gutierrez for a 75-yard touchdown strike, however the PAT from Rendon was no good this time, leaving the score, 13-6. The Hornets would fire right back, as Groetken connected with Jaibryn Ornelas on a slant over the middle for a 55-yard touchdown. The PAT from Groetken was good, tying the game, 13-13.
Stone would take to the air again on the Bulldog’s next drive, this time connecting with Arguello for a 32-yard touchdown to make the score, 19-13, after the failed PAT, as the first quarter came to a close.
Sudan senior running back, Marcello King, opened the second frame with a 47-yard touchdown, followed by Groetken’s PAT to put the Hornets in front, 20- 19. Groetken would follow it up with a 17-yard touchdown strike, but missed the PAT, making the score, 26-19. Tahoka would not stay quiet for long, as Jordan Martinez answered with a 72-yard touchdown run, but the Bulldogs missed on the two-point conversion, leaving the Hornets in front, 26-25.
The Bulldogs would close out the first half with a six-yard touchdown run by Jordan Hicks, but they missed on the two-point conversion, giving them a, 31-26, lead going into the locker room at halftime.
Groetken opened the second half with a 10-yard touchdown run and converted the PAT to put the Hornets back in front, 33-31, but later in the quarter, Tahoka responded, as Arguello caught a 65yard touchdown pass from Stone. The Bulldogs converted the twopoint conversion, as Stone hit Quinn Carroll to push their lead to, 39-31.
The teams continued to trade blows, as Sudan rushed for a twoyard touchdown and converted the PAT to take a one-point lead, 40-39. Martinez got loose in the open field for the Bulldogs, rushing for a 41-yard touchdown, but they failed on the two-point conversion, leaving the score, 45-40. Sudan would answer with a 23yard touchdown run, followed by the PAT from Groetken, putting them back on top, 47-45.
Tahoka would close out the third quarter with a six-yard touchdown run from Hicks; he also converted the two-point conversion to make the score, 53-47, going into the final quarter of play.
Groetken opened the final frame with a 31-yard touchdown strike, but missed the PAT, making the score, 53-53. Hicks answered for the Bulldogs with an eight-yard touchdown run, followed by the PAT from Rendon, stretching the Tahoka lead to, 60-53. Sudan, though, would respond with a 75yard touchdown run to tie the game, 60-60, and they followed it up with a four-yard touchdown run to win the game, 67-60.
Offensively, Groetken finished the game 14-25 passing for 287 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while als adding 24 carries for 242 yards and three touchdowns.
King led the rushing attack for the Hornets with 32 carries for 251 yards and four touchdowns.
In the receiving game, Ornelas tallied five catches for 171 yards and two scores, while Reyher chipped in three catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. King also hauled in one catch for 20 yards.
Defensively, Kasen Kauffman finished with 16 total tackles and one block, while King tallied seven tackles, one for loss, and two interceptions, and Reyher contributed seven tackles and one interception. Kincaid Boehning finished with seven tackles, one for loss and a fumble recovery.
Sudan will host Ropes on Friday for their home-opener at Hornet Stadium.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.