Bulldogs overcome slow start
By Kathy Thomson
Friday was a game of two halves, with Three Way taking a 12-0 lead into the locker room, but Moran putting up 52 unanswered points in the second half to pull out a decisive win.
The Braves came into the bout with a 7-6 record, and head coach John Hughes said the Bulldogs may have underestimated Three Way.
“I think that maybe we were looking past Three Way a little bit,” he said. “It wasn’t pretty at first, but after what started out as an ugly half of football, the guys got it together. Once we got on track in the second half, things got better for us.”
The coach said his players came together to work like a family the last two quarters.
“It wasn’t about making adjustments; it was about the guys putting the ‘family’ to the forefront,” Hughes said. “Every one of the guys contributed to this win in some capacity. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of young men.”
He also credited Matthew Hise, Rob Crow, and Phillip Huskey for their help coaching the team.
The win at home on Friday, Oct. 18 moved the Bulldogs to a 4-3 pre-district record.
“For the first time in a long time, we actually played with a completely healthy team,” Hughes said. “Now we have to get ready for the start of district play.”
District Schedule
Moran takes on the 8-0 Hornets in Blackwell for the district opener on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
“Blackwell is ranked fifth in the state and they will present one of the biggest challenges that we will face this year,” said the coach. “But our guys will be ready, and hopefully we can pull off an upset.”
The junior high Bulldogs were off last week and are also set to start district in Blackwell this Friday. The middle school boys will take to the field for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.
District 6 play continues with Loraine coming to Moran on Nov. 1 and concludes with the Bulldogs traveling to Trent on Nov. 8. The junior high matches will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity bouts at 7:30.
Game Statistics
Sophomores Lyric Huskey and Arren Hawley led the offense, with over 20 points each.
Huskey carried eight times for 100 yards, including four touchdowns. He also pulled in an eight-yard reception and garnered 26 yards on a kickoff return.
Hawley caught five passes from Braden Crow for 60 yards, including two TDs. He also kicked in five of seven PAT attempts. Hawley rushed for 12 yards on one carry.
Also scoring for Moran was senior Jonas Sotelo, who rushed for 36 yards on nine carries, including once into the end zone.
Junior Colby Bell added seven more rushing yards on four carries.
Defensive standouts included Bell with 10 tackles, Harley Schafer with six, Hawley and Huskey with four each, and Sotelo and Crow with three each. Corey Miller, Memphis McGough, and Trey Cox each contributed a tackle.
Hawley intercepted four passes, and Sotelo also snagged a Three Way aerial.
McGough, the lone freshman on the team, forced a fumble and made the recovery, while Bell earned a 12-yard sack.
