By Staff
Joe Holmes, Enquirer Correspondent
It took an overtime touchdown run by Jordan King to finally beat a determined Priceville Bulldog team Friday night. Priceville tied the game late in the third period and held off two fourth-quarter Bronco scoring threats to send the game into overtime. However, the Bulldogs could not muster a score in overtime and dropped to 0-3 on the year with the loss.
"We played hard," said Priceville head coach Marty Chambers. "But we have to find a way to score points in the red zone. We're playing well but just seem to be snake-bit right now."
The teams played to a scoreless tie during the first half. Jayson Hamilton, Wesley Long and Jeremy Holloway turned in key defensive plays to keep Holly Pond off the scoreboard, despite two Bronco drives deep into Bulldog territory.
Priceville had a chance to draw first blood late in the second quarter. The Bulldogs drove from their own 5-yard line to the Holly Pond 10 behind the running of Eli Allen, Trevor Maxwell and Brad Helton. But the drive stalled on fourth-and-three when quarterback Hunter Teague's pass intended for wide-out Helton fell incomplete.
Holly Pond's Tyler Phillips put the first points on the board on the opening drive of the third quarter. Phillips' 5-yard touchdown run came at the 8:30 mark of the third quarter. Chris Wilder's extra point was true and the visitors led 7-0.
Priceville wasted little time responding. The Bulldogs marched 55 yards in nine plays to score when Teague hit tight-end Rand Hutchison with a 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. Brad Helton added the extra point to knot the game at 7-7 with 3:15 left in the third.
After a scoreless final quarter, the teams entered overtime with Holly Pond on offense. On first-and-goal from the 10, J.R. Westmoreland greeted Phillips with a crushing stick for no gain.
Phillips tried again on second down, but Holloway was there to hold the fullback to just one yard. King swung wide on third down and just clipped the pylon for the score. Wilder's extra point was again good and Holly Pond took a 14-7 lead.
Priceville had a chance to counter the Bronco score. Maxwell and Teague found little running room against the Holly Pond line on first and second downs. Will Stevens was sacked as he rolled out of the pocket on third down and Teague's attempt to Aaron Sawyer fell incomplete in the endzone on the fourth-down try to give Holly Pond the victory.
Maxwell led the Priceville offense with 110 yards on 16 carries. Priceville totaled 161 yards of offense with 12 first downs. Helton punted three times for an average of 28 yards.
Priceville (0-3, 0-2 in region play) will look to pick up its first win of the season Friday night at Oakman (0-3, 0-2).