7th Grade Bulldogs 2X Champions

“The second is just as sweet,” Head Coach Nick Montoya said.

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The Bulldogs ended the season undefeated 7-0 regular season play and 2-0 in tournament play. However, the Canyon View Falcons came to play, coming close to ending that undefeated streak. The winning margin was only nine points.

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“We played a different team today,” Montoya said. “They came to play. They played well. We executed really well. A few things we didn’t do well. We had some penalties there but the kids played great.”

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The game started with two turnovers by Luke Hughes who stripped the ball away from the Falcons receiver and then had another interception returning it deep into Falcon territory. This allowed Gabriel Zarate to rush it into the endzone for the first score. Liam Davis tacked on the extra point kick to take the Bulldogs up 7-0 at the end of first quarter.

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“My determination,” Hughes said of his aggressive play. “I am not really big; I just have to have the mindset.”

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Early in the second quarter, the Falcons defensively stripped Zarate while he was going to pass the ball, resulting in a recovered fumble to try and get momentum back. However, the Bulldogs were able to stop their drive. On the following possession, Milan Jordan ran in from the 1-yard line to score for the Bulldogs and Davis added another good kick. The Bulldogs went up 14-0.

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On the immediate kick-off, the Falcons returner rushed it 78 yards back for the score and put some blaster engines on to run past all of the Bulldogs. With a two-point conversion, the Falcons found themselves back in the game, down by six. The Halftime score was 14-8.

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In the second half, Zarate again rushed in for the score taking up the score to 20-14. Almost immediately the Falcons had a tremendous play with a reception going down to the Bulldogs 1 yard line. They punched it in the following play, but the Bulldogs shut down their 2 point conversion attempt. Score was now 20-14. With still time on the clock, the Bulldogs began rushing the ball straight up the middle, keeping the clock running.

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In the fourth quarter with 4:48 left, the Bulldogs were stopped on an important 3rd down. With the ball at the 16 yard line, Montoya decided to go for the field goal to make it a two score game. Davis was directly on as the ball split the uprights to go up 23-14. However, the Falcons did not give up and began driving again. Driving down the field, the ball was tipped by Zarate who did a juggling act to intercept the ball and claim the championship title.

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“Kicking the field goal to go up 9 sealed the deal,” Montoya said. “I don’t think these kids understand how that really sealed the deal but again we are teaching them how to play football. The most important part is that we want them to be great individuals and great young men. That’s really what we are teaching them. I love seeing them winning on the field but I love seeing them winning in life.”

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Some outstanding play that ignited the passion and energy for the team included some outstanding play by the whole team especially Ricky Castillo who stood his ground and was able to bring down the Falcons runner on a big defensive stop.

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“Pounding the ball down their throat,” Montoya said about the key to the victory. “We didn’t do anything fancy. We went straight up the middle. We’re a passing team but we felt like we could run on them. They didn’t make many adjustments, so we took what they gave us.”

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The Bulldogs were able to celebrate with their parents and fans and was honored this week by the Mesquite City Council meeting on last night.

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