The Amherst Bulldogs’ varsity football team traveled to Lazbuddie on Thursday for their district-opener, where they defeated the Longhorns, 58-8, in the third quarter.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 5-1 overall on the season, 1-0 in district play.
The Bulldogs won the coin toss and elected to go on defense to start the game.
The opening kick-off by senior, Gabriel Garcia, rolled out of bounds, giving Lazbuddie the ball at their own 31-yard line to start their first drive. A fumbled snap on first down was recovered by Skout Russell of the Longhorns, dropping them back to second and 18 from their own 28-yard line. On second down the option pitch went to Zeke Kasel, but he was stopped for a two-yard loss, making it third and 20.
Kasel took a run to the right for a couple of yards, before being ran out of bounds by senior, Isaac Herrera, to bring up fourth down. The Longhorns pass on fourth down fell incomplete, but they were bailed out by a defensive pass interference call on the Bulldogs, giving them a first and 15 at the Amherst 30- yard line. Amherst’s defense would stiffen, and on fourth and 14, the Longhorns elected to go for it, but Kasel was stuffed on a run up the middle for a turnover on downs with 7:03 to play in the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs took over at their own 33-yard line, as sophomore, Kevin Garcia took a run to the right across midfield to set up a second and short for Amherst at the Lazbuddie 21-yard line. He carried the ball to the left on second down, taking it down to the 13yard line to set up first and goal for the Bulldogs. Freshman, Joel Garcia, hit a crossing Herrera on first down, as he took the catch down to the two-yard line, where Kevin Garcia would punch it in on the next play for the two-yard score. Gabriel Garcia drilled the kick to put the Bulldogs up, 8-0, with 5:10 left to play in the first quarter.
Lazbuddie’s offense took over at their own 34-yard line after the kick by Amherst rolled out of bounds, but again they went fourand- out, as a pass from Kasel fell incomplete on fourth down looking for Wilhelm Martens for a turnover on downs with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.
Amherst wasted no time getting back into the end zone, as Joel Garcia dropped back on first down and found Gabriel Garcia on the near sideline for a huge play, taking the ball down to the Lazbuddie seven-yard line to set up first and goal. Kevin Garcia would take a run up the middle for a touchdown on the next play and the kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 16-0, with 3:36 left to play in the quarter.
The onside kick by Amherst was recovered by Joel Garcia at the Lazbuddie 24-yard line, giving the Bulldogs an extra possession.
Herrera took a run to the left for 13 yards on first down, and the pass from Joel Garcia on second down was dropped by Gabriel Garcia, bringing up third and two from the 11-yard line. Kevin Garcia took the third-down run up the middle to set up first and goal from the seven-yard line and on the next play, Joel Garcia dropped back and hit Herrera for the seven-yard touchdown pass. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 24-0, with 2:19 remaining in the quarter.
The kick-off was muffed by the Longhorns, before rolling out of bounds, giving Lazbuddie the ball at their own 25-yard line. The Longhorns tried a reverse to Braeden Railsback on first down, but it was shut down by junior, Hector Perez, after a gain of one. Kasel picked up seven yards on second down, and he carried it again on third down, starting out to the left, before cutting back across the field for a solid gain into Amherst territory.
Kasel ran again on first down, picking up four yards before being stopped by Perez, as the first quarter came to a close. A throwback to Kasel was stuffed by the Bulldogs to open the second quarter, but on the next play, Kasel broke free around the right side for a 24-yard touchdown run. The kick by Railsback was good, trimming the lead to, 24-8, with 9:10 remaining in the first half.
A big return on the kick-off by freshman, Aiden Rodriguez, set the Bulldogs up with first and 15 at their own 37-yard line where Kevin Garcia took a run into Lazbuddie territory down to the 27-yard line to move the sticks for Amherst. The Bulldogs ran a reverse to Rodriguez on the next play, as he took it down to the fiveyard line to set up first and goal for the Bulldogs and on the next play, Kevin Garcia punched it in for the five-yard score. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 32-8, with 8:09 to play in the first half.
Amherst’s defense forced a three-and-out on Lazbuddie’s next offensive possession, as they punted the ball away on fourth down with 5:50 to play in the half.
Amherst took over at the Lazbuddie 33-yard line, as Kevin Garcia picked up nine yards on a first down run up the middle. Rodriguez carried the ball on second down cutting to his left before breaking free for a 24-yard touchdown run. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 40-8, with five minutes remaining in the half.
The onside kick by Herrera was recovered by Gabriel Garcia at the Lazbuddie 34-yard line and two plays later, Joel Garcia connected with junior, Oscar Medrano, for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The one-point conversion try was no good, leaving the score, 46-8, with 4:03 to play in the half.
Lazbuddie was able to fall on the onside kick, as their offense took over at their own 37-yard line. The Longhorns were able to drive into Amherst territory, but on fourth and 15, Russell’s pass was broken up by Gabriel Garcia for a turnover on downs with 2:11 remaining in the half.
Amherst took over at their own 27-yard line and were able to march 53-yards, capping off the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run by Rodriguez. The kick by Garcia was wide left, making the score, 52-8, going into halftime.
Amherst got the ball to open the second half and were able to take it 47-yards, capping off the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass from Herrera to Yahir Garcia to end the game, as Amherst took down Lazbuddie, 58-8.
The Bulldogs will be at Wellman-Union on Thursday for a non-district match-up with the Wildcats.
Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.