Fumbles plague Bulldogs in 76-0 lashing

POMEROY––It was a night when nothing went right for the Dayton Bulldogs-from the first play by the Pomeroy Pirates to the final buzzer as the Bulldogs suffered a 76-0 loss here Friday. Numerous Bulldog offensive possessions started with a fumble and the Pirates didn't miss an opportunity to put a Southeast 1B win in the books.

Dayton, 2-3 in conference play, visits Touchet (2-4) this Friday for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Liberty Christian sits atop the standings at 6-0 with DeSales and Gar-Pal tied for second with 4-2 records. Sunnyside Christian is 3-3, and Dayton is in fourth ahead of Touchet. SJEL at 1-5 is in sixth and both Tekoa-Rosalia and Yakama Tribal have no wins.

Pirate defense didn't allow any Dawg ball carriers to positive yards and also defended Dayton's passing game well, holding Jordan McCowen to 32 yards on three of nine passes. Receivers were led by Beau Hazelbaker, who made three receptions for 32 yards.

Kick off returners Denver Hutchens and Raymond Yutzy got a workout, Yutzy fielding five kicks for 17 yards and Hutchens bringing two back for 25 yards.

Dayton's defense was kept busy the entire game with the entire team notching tackles. McCowen had 6½, Yutzy 6, and Will Durham, Sawyer Brenner and Solomon Brenner a pair each. Nolan Korslund and Hutchens each had 1½ tackles.

Dayton kicked to the Pirates, who scored on the first play from scrimmage, a 64-yard Walker Flynn run.

Starting with fair field position on their 41, McCowen's first carry was fumbled with Pirate Ollie Severs recovering and hustling to inside the one-yard line. Next play, he carried for the score.

Now trailing 16-0, the Bulldogs went to the air, but receivers Hutchens and Yutzy were well defended and the Dawgs turned the ball over on downs. In short order, Pirate Jacob Reisinger rumbled the 13 yards to pay dirt and a 24-0 lead after Boone Schmidt's conversion.

The Bulldogs set up shop after Hutchens's 16-yard return to the Dayton 36-yard line, but McCowen coughed up the ball, Severs picking it up and McCowen tackling him at the Dayton 15-yard line. Successive hold penalties pushed Pomeroy back to the 35, then Pirate quarterback Jett Slusser ran the next play in for six and a 32-0 lead.

McCowen's day went from bad to worse with another bobble that was recovered by Pirate Trace Roberts, and the Pomeroy's Braxton McKeirnan got the call and rushed 12 yards for the score. The point-after didn't go, making the first-quarter score 38-0.

From bad to worse for the Bulldogs, Cesar Morfin's on-side kick was recovered by Boone Schmidt at midfield and the Pirate reserves subbed in and ran a series without a score, forced a Dawg punt, then finished their next possession with a two-yard Levi Bowen touchdown.

Dayton's last possession of the first quarter was more bad luck: Pirate Schmidt snagging a McCowen pass at the Bulldog 20-yard line. Pomeroy's Bowen scored as the second quarter got underway.

Setting up shop after Hutchens's nine-yard kick off return, Hazelbaker ran the first play and fumbled, but Dayton recovered. The Pirate defense seemed to have an answer for every Dayton play and Duane Moore punted. Pomeroy gained two first downs before stalling, Dayton's possession went three and out and the first half ended.

In the second half, Dayton possessions were effectively stopped by the Pirates either on downs or by turnover in the shortened game. One bright spot was a fourth-quarter Yutzy interception and Dayton moved the ball but eventually turned the ball over on downs. Pirates Bowen and McKeirnan (2) scored in the second half.

Pomeroy 76, Dayton 0 (10-6)

Pom 46 8 16 6-76

Day 0 0 0 0-0

Pom: Walker Flynn 64 yd rush. Jett Slusser run.

Pom: Oliver Severs 0 yd rush. Jacob Reisinger run.

Pom: Reisinger 13 yd rush. Boone Schmidt pass from Slusser.

Pom: Slusser 35 yd rush. Severs pass from Reisinger.

Pom: Braxton McKeirnan 12 yd rush. Run failed. Pom: Levi Bowen 2 yd rush. McKeirnan run.

Pom: Levi Bowen 10 yd rush. Robby VanVogt pass from Vinnie Vecchio.

Pom: Bowen 10 yd rush. Bowen run.

Pom: McKeirnan 1 yd pass from Vecchio. VanVogt pass from Vecchio.

Pom: McKeirnan 16 yd rush. Run failed.

Pom Day

First Dns 17 3

Rshs-Yds 38-309 12-(-53)

Recep-Yds 2-2 6-36

Passing Yds 2 36

Comp-Atts 2-5 6-19

TD-INT 1-1 0-2

Fumb-Lost 2-0 6-3

Pen-Yds 10-80 2-21

3rd Dn Conv 1-6 1-10

4th Dn Conv 2-4 1-5