BULLDOGS TOP WILDCATS, 56-8

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  • GOING THE OTHER WAY – Amherst sophomore, Gabriel Garcia, comes away with an interception midway through the third quarter of the Budllogs’, 56-8, road victory over Wellman-Union on Friday night. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
    GOING THE OTHER WAY – Amherst sophomore, Gabriel Garcia, comes away with an interception midway through the third quarter of the Budllogs’, 56-8, road victory over Wellman-Union on Friday night. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
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The Amherst Bulldogs’ varsity football team went on the road and took down the Wellman-Union Wildcats on Friday night, 56-8.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-1 overall on the season.

The Wildcats got the ball to begin the game, as the Wildcats caught a deflected pass from Chad Bradley for a first down at the Amherst 15-yard line. The Wildcats carried the ball for no gain on first down and Bradley threw the ball away to avoid a sack on second down.

On third and 15, Bradley completed a 12-yard pass to set up fourth and goal from the Amherst three-yard line. On fourth down, Bradley’s pass was incomplete to Brason Salas in the endzone for a turnover on downs with 7:23 remaining in the first quarter.

Amherst took over at their own three, as senior tailback, Omar Reyes Jr., carried the ball out of the endzone for nine yards. Reyes got the call again on second down, taking the ball up to the Bulldogs’ 28-yard line for a first down.

On first down, junior quarterback, Chris Gonzales, completed a pass to junior, Jaime Garcia, down the far sideline to set up first and goal at the Wildcats’ 13-yard line. Gonzales hit Reyes for 12 yards, taking the ball down to the one-yard line and freshman, Diego Aguilar, punched it in on the next play for the one-yard touchdown with five minutes remaining in the quarter. The kick after by sophomore, Gabriel Garcia, was no good, leaving the score, 6-0.

Wellman-Union took over after the kick-off at their own 35-yard line and marched right down the field, aided by several Amherst penalties. They capped off an eight-play 45-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Tony Loewen. The kick after by Marc Ramos was good putting the Wildcats in front, 8-6.

Reyes recovered the Wildcats’ onside kick try at the Amherst 37-yard line, where the Bulldogs’ offense would begin the next drive.

On first down, Reyes broke loose up the middle for a big gain, taking the ball down to the Wildcats’ 22-yard line to move the sticks. He got the call again and took it into the endzone for the 22-yard touchdown. Gabriel Garcia’s kick after was good, putting the Bulldogs on top, 14-8.

Bradley was tackled on the kick off by Jaime Garcia after a short return, setting them up with first and 15 at their own 14-yard line.

The Wildcats fumbled a pitch and were tackled in the backfield by Reyes for a loss of 11 on the play. On second and 26, they were flagged for false start, backing them up to second and 27 from their own two-yard line. On second and long Bradley was sacked in the endzone by Reyes for a safety with 9:41 remaining in the first half, putting the Bulldogs up, 16-8.

A line-drive kick found the hands of Reyes, who took it to the far side of the field and found a seam to the endzone for the touchdown, putting the Bulldogs up, 22-8, with 9:34 to play in the half. On the Wildcats’ next drive, they were able to take the ball into Amherst territory, but on fourth and 11, Bradley’s run was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs, with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter.

Amherst took over at their own 29-yard line, as Aguilar carried the ball for no gain, brought down by Austin Ferriera. Gonzales’ pas down the far sideline was incomplete on second down looking for Isaac Herrera, but on third and 15, Reyes carried the ball down to the Wildcats’ 26-yard line to move the chains for the Bulldogs.

Amherst was flagged for a false start on first down, but Gonzales hit Herrera with a quick pass, as he turned it up field, taking it down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal for Amherst. Gonzales’ pass was incomplete to Gabriel Garcia on first down and the Bulldogs were flagged for illegal formation on second down, backing them up to second and goal from the 15-yard line.

They would punch it in on the next, play as Reyes took it in for the 15-yard score with 3:27 to play in the half, making the score, 28-8.

Wellman-Union took over at their own five-yard line, but was unable to finish the drive, as they went into halftime trailing Amherst, 28-8.

The Bulldogs received to open the second half and senior, Sergio Gonzales, fielded the short kick off and took it down the near side for a 35-yard touchdown return. The kick after by Gabriel Garcia was good, stretching their lead to, 36-8.

The Wildcats’ were unable to get anything going on their next drive, as Bradley’s pass was incomplete on fourth and 13, turning the ball over on downs with 7:48 to play in the third quarter.

Amherst started their drive at the Wellman-Union 37-yard line, as Aguilar picked up 10 yards on a first-down carry. Gonzales hit Gabriel Garcia for a big play and afterwards the Wildcats were flagged for a personal foul, moving the ball down to the five-yard line to set up first and goal for Amherst.

Chris Gonzales’ pass on first and goal was dropped by Jaime Garcia in the endzone, but Reyes would put the Bulldogs in the endzone on the next play with a five-yard touchdown run with 6:38 remaining in the quarter. Gabriel Garcia’s kick was good, extending their lead to, 44-8.

Wellman-Union got the ball back but after a handful of plays, their drive was derailed, as Gabriel Garcia came away with an interception on fourth and 16 to get the ball back for the Bulldogs with 5:08 to play in the quarter.

Amherst needed just three plays to march 50 yards, capping off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Sergio Gonzales, pushing their lead to, 50-8, with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.

Wellman-Union’s offensive woes continued on their next drive, as they fumbled a hand-off, and it was recovered by Reyes with four minutes remaining in the quarter.

Amherst took over and after a delay of game penalty, they would put the exclamation point on the contest, as Chris Gonzales hit a wide open Juan Salas for the gameending touchdown, making the final score, 56-8.