Injury leaves Bulldogs short

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs were forced to call an early halt to their game Friday, Oct. 21 in a 41-0 loss to Valera Panther Creek in the District 14-1A Division II opener for both teams.

The Bulldogs (0-8 overall, 0-1 district) make their final home appearance at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 (tonight) when they host Paint Rock. Tyler Waddell, Moran’s lone senior, will be honored before the game with a Senior Night ceremony.

Against Panther Creek, Bulldogs quarterback Ellis Hise was injured late in the first half, leaving Moran with five players and leading coach John Hughes to end the game early.

Hise was injured when he was tackled on a 52-yard kickoff return.

“Panther Creek did everything we expected,” Hughes said. “We controlled it pretty well, but there were a couple of times we missed an assignment, and they turned it into a big play.”

Panther Creek led 14-0 after the first quarter before scoring four times in the second. Even with the deficit, Moran was set to extend the game until Hise went down.

“We had the ball at their 5-yard line, and if we could have punched it in, it would have been a different situation,” Hughes said. “Instead, we fumbled, and they picked it up and took it back 75 yards.”

Moran finished with 66 total yards. Connor Hail rushed for 75 yards on nine carries, but the Bulldogs finished with 57 net yards rushing. Hail broke loose for gains of 37 yards and 22 yards.

“When we did everything right, the holes were there,” Hughes said.

Hise completed one of nine passes for 9 yards. Caleb York had the reception.

Hail had a team-high eight total tackles with five solo stops. Cotten Campbell was in on six tackles and Zech Henderson had five, followed by York with four, Hise with three, and Waddell with two.

Facing Paint Rock

In order to have enough players for this week, Hughes has elected to suit up an ineligible player.

“Basically, we went ahead and forfeited the game to Paint Rock,” he said. “This way, we can play and have our Senior Night ceremony. If everything goes right with Ellis, he’ll be back for the last game.”

The Indians (2-6, 0-1) are coming off a 50-0 loss to Rising Star in their district opener. Paint Rock has lost four in a row since beating Trent 66-16 on Sept. 16.

“It was going to be a pretty even match-up,” Hughes said. “We will  have three big bodies on the offensive line and see if we can pound it down their throats. We’re going to be pretty run-heavy.”