The Amherst Bulldogs’ varsity football team came up short on Friday night in Petersburg, as they fell to the Silverton Owls, 52-34, in the Class 1A Six-Man D-2 Bi-district round of the play-offs.
With the loss, the Bulldogs finish the season with a mark of 9-2.
The Owls got the ball to start the game and were able to take it into Amherst territory, but on fourth and 14,Amherst’s Joel Garcia came up with a stop short of the sticks forcing a turnover on downs with 5:59 to play in the opening quarter.
Kevin Garcia carried the ball to the left, picking up 14 yards on first down, but Hector Perez’s run on second down was blown up in the backfield by the Owls, backing them up to third and seven from the Silverton 39-yard line. On third down, Joel Garcia hit Aiden Rodriguez with a pass to the right, as he took it down to the Owl’s 25-yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Back-to-back runs from Kevin Garcia set the Bulldogs up with first and goal from the eight-yard line, however a false start penalty on first down, backed them up to the 13-yard line. Joel Garcia called his own number taking a run up the middle, trucking a Silverton defender on his way into the end zone for the 13-yard touchdown. The kick by Kevin Garcia was good, putting the Bulldogs up, 8-0, with 3:42 to play in the first quarter.
Silverton would answer two plays later, as the Owls broke loose for a 50yard touchdown run. The kick after was good, tying the game, 8-8, with 2:53 to play in the first quarter.
Amherst’s next possession would end with a turnover on downs, after Rodriguez was brought down short of the sticks on fourth down with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter.
Silverton took over at the Amherst 38-yard line, with a series of runs taking the game into the second frame. On first down to start the second quarter, the Owls scored on a 16-yard touchdown run with 9:53 to play in the first half. The kick was good, putting Silverton in front, 16-8.
Amherst’s offense struggled to move the ball on their next drive, as they went three-and-out, with Kevin Garcia punting the ball away with 8:42 remaining in the half.
Silverton got the ball on their own 33-yard line and needed just one play to find the end zone, as they carried the ball around the right side for a 47yard touchdown. The kick was good, pushing their lead to, 24-8, with 8:34 to play in the half.
The Owls took advantage of a turnover on downs from Amherst taking their next drive, 27 yards for the score, capping it off with a six-yard touchdown run with just over four minutes remaining in the half. The kick was no good, leaving the score, 30-8, going into the locker room at halftime.
Amherst received to open the second half, as they got a big return from Rodriguez, who took the ball down to the Silverton 28-yard line.
A bad snap was covered by Joel Garcia on first down at the Silverton 34-yard line, and Rodriguez was stopped for a three-yard loss on second down, making it third and 24 from the 37-yard line. Joel Garcia hit Yahir Garcia for a four-yard pass, but the Bulldogs were faced with a fourth and long from the 33-yard line.
They elected to go for it as Rodriguez took the reverse around the left side and was tackled for a loss, but the Owls were flagged for a horse collar tackle, giving Amherst an automatic first down at the 22-yard line. Amherst would capitalize, as Joel Garcia connected with Rodriguez for the 22-yard touchdown pass with 7:41 to play in the third quarter. The kick by Kevin Garcia was no good, trimming the lead to, 30-14.
Amherst’s defense forced a turnover on downs on the next series, getting the ball back for their offense at their own 34-yard line.
The Bulldogs used a heavy dose of Keving Garcia and Joel Garcia in the run game to take the ball down the field, capping off the drive with a fouryard touchdown run from Joel Garcia with 4:15 to play in the quarter. The kick from Kevin Garcia was good, cutting the lead to, 30-22.
The Owls would answer with 1:19 remaining in the third, as they scored on a 15-yard touchdown run, followed with the kick to push their lead back out to, 38-22.
Kevin Garcia returned the next kickoff from Silverton to the Amherst 35yard line and four consecutive runs from the Bulldogs took the game into the fourth quarter. On fourth and one, Keving Garcia trucked ahead picking up the first down for Amherst, taking it down to the 26-yard line. The drive stalled after back-to-back runs from Kevin Garcia and an incomplete pass from Joel Garcia.
The Bulldogs faced another fourth down, but they elected to go for it, as Joel Garcia hit Kevin Garcia, who turned it up field taking it down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal. On first down, Joel Garcia hit a receiver in the back of the end zone for a 10yard touchdown. The kick from Kevin Garcia was blocked by the Owls, making the score, 38-28, with 7:38 remaining.
The Owls would strike quickly, as they fielded the onside kick and returned it for a touchdown with 7:27 left to play in the game. The kick was no good, leaving the score, 44-28.
Amherst turned the ball over on downs with 3:44 to play and three plays later the Owls found the end zone again, as they scored on a 29yard touchdown run with just over two minutes to play in the contest. The kick was good, making the score, 52-28.
Joel Garcia would hit Guillermo Pacheco with a 15-yard pass for a touchdown with 1:26 to play in the game, but the kick was no good, as Silverton went on to take the contest, 52-34.