Bulldogs suffer first loss of season
By Kathy Thomson
The Bulldogs suffered their first defeat of the season last Friday, Sept. 20, falling to 3-1 on the season after losing 19-25 to the Rotan Yellowhammers.
“We lost last week, but I was proud of the guys and how they fought through some major adversity,” said head coach John Hughes.
Moran has nine players on the roster, so after two of Moran’s team members were injured during the game, the Bulldogs were down to only seven.
Sophomore Braden Crow, the Bulldogs’ quarterback, is expected to be able to take the field again by their next game, which is Moran’s homecoming on Oct. 4. However, Lyric Huskey, also a sophomore, is expected to be out a couple of weeks beyond that.
Hughes said that his team kept the game close, and was only one touchdown away from sending it into overtime.
Upcoming Schedule
“We have a much-needed break this week, and get to spend some time getting healthy again before our game against Chillicothe,” said the coach. “It will be homecoming, so hopefully we can get back on track.”
Chillicothe, currently 2-1 on the season, will play Throckmorton this week before coming to Moran the following Friday.
Kickoff in Moran on Friday, Oct. 4 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Moran’s junior high football team is 0-1. They lost to Sidney in their opener and had a bye last week. This Thursday, Sept. 26 they will play in Strawn at 6:00 p.m.
Varsity Details
Moran and Rotan both scored six points in the first quarter, but the Yellowhammers pulled ahead 19-6 by the half.
The teams each scored a touchdown in the third, and Moran scored again in the fourth, but when the final buzzer sounded, Rotan remained in the lead 25-19.
Senior Jonas Sotelo racked up 202 rushing yards including two touchdowns on three carries. Sotelo also recovered a fumble that he ran 20 yards into the end zone.
Lyric Huskey advanced six yards on one carry. Sophomore Trey Cox took a handoff five yards, and caught a pass for another six.
Junior Colby Bell added three yards on the ground and 25 on a reception.
Senior Harley Schafer totaled 23 yards on two receptions.
Braden Crow threw six times for two completions and two interceptions.
Also passing for Moran were Sotelo, with one completion on two attempts, and sophomore Arren Hawley with two completions for a total of 45 yards on six attempts.
Sotelo led the defense with 21 tackles, followed by Schafer and Hawley at 16 each, Crow with nine, Bell with eight, Cox with four, and Huskey and freshman Memphis McGough with one tackle each.
