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Injuries end Bulldog season

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Albany News

By Sam Waller

Low numbers finally caught up to the Moran Bulldogs as injuries left the team without enough players for the final game of the season.

After falling to Paint Rock 72-22 on Friday at Bulldog Field, Moran will be forced to forfeit its season finale against Rising Star.

The junior high team will close out its season at 5:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at Rising Star.

Against Paint Rock, Moran suffered its second injury loss in as many weeks when Tyler Waddell, the team’s lone senior, injured a shoulder. With quarterback Ellis Hise already sidelined, the Bulldogs played the rest of the game shorthanded.

“We played extremely well,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said. “We played basically 2½ quarters of five-on-six football.”

The specter of being unable to play the entire schedule has hung over the team, which began the season with eight players.

“Last year, we had to cancel a game because of sickness and only played nine games,” Hughes said. “Having to forfeit the last game counts against us no matter what because it’s a district game.”

Against Paint Rock, Connor Hail rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns, his second time over 200 yards this season. Caleb York at quarterback was 1 of 8 passing for 6 yards. Hail had the reception.

The Bulldogs lost four turnovers in the game.

York led Moran with 13 tackles, and Cotten Campbell added 12. Hail finished with eight tackles, including one for a loss, and recovered a fumble. Zech Henderson added six tackles, with Waddell making four and Max Oliver two.

Moran trailed 24-16 at the end of the first quarter before Paint Rock scored 30 points in the second. The Indians scored three times in the second half.

“I told the guys I thought that if we’d been healthy and had our full complement, we’d have beaten that team, no questions asked,” Hughes said. “We got it into the fourth quarter. My five guys against their six handled them pretty well.”

Tipping Off

Moran began boys basketball practice this week under coach Matt Hise, while Hughes must wait for the volleyball team to finish its playoff run before the girls can work out.

The Lady Bulldogs will open their season Nov. 12 at Loraine. The first boys game will be Friday, Nov. 18 against Mullin at home.

Alli Scott, who earned honorable mention all-district honors last year, heads the list of returning players for the Lady Bulldogs. Moran lost two starters to graduation, Johnnie Hise and Hannah Rogers, while Hannah Noble transferred.

Moran will have only one boys team at the junior high level. The junior high season starts Thursday, Nov. 10 at Rising Star.