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Dayton's Silas Czapka (5) goes up for a Jordan McCowen pass in action from Dayton's 26-12 loss to Sunnyside Christian, with defender Jake Smeenk (4) giving Czapka interference. Czapka made two catches for 33 yards in the game.
Duane Moore (3) pursues Knight Gunnar Alseth (14), a 150-lb. sophomore. Moore is a 5-11, 155-lb. senior defensive lineman for the Bulldogs.
DAYTON–The Bulldogs and Sunnyside Christian Knights battled to a draw in the first half then both scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, but the visiting Knights tacked on two more touchdowns in the final stanza for a hard-fought 26-12 win over Dayton here Friday, September 13.
The 1-1 Dawgs will get a week to lick their wounds as injury and illness have thinned the 11-man roster enough that this Friday's game at Soap Lake has been canceled, according to Sam Korslund, athletic director. The non-league game will not be rescheduled.
"We battled in the first half on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Lucas Collier.
"Going into the second half 0-0 and the first series we marched the ball down the field to put up six was awesome," he added. "We had two critical plays that cost us the game, and way too many penalties."
Hutchens counted 115 receiving yards, including the touchdown on a 22-yard pass from quarterback Jordan McCowen.
Silas Czapka had 33 yards off two receptions.
Collier had 70 yards carry off 12 touches. One carry of 22 yards put us right in the goal line so he could punch it in.
McCowen had 41 yards on the positive side of the ball and passed for 147 yards.
Dayton had trouble hanging on the ball and completing the throw in coverage, Collier said, including four turnovers.
Raymond Yutzy rushed for 29 yards and had a 38-yard punt return.
"Defensively, the team did everything they needed to win the game," Collier said. Yutzy and Hutchens counted six solo tackles. Hutchens added five assists, a blocked punt, forced a fumble and counted two sacks. Yutzy added seven assists.
Will Durham and Collier each notched five solo tackles. Collier had nine assists and an interception, and Durham six assists and two fumble recoveries, Collier said. Garrott Yost made three solo tackles and two sacks.
Sunnyside had a 49-yard touchdown pass called back via a holding penalty to start the second half, then Andrew Boggs sacked Knight quarterback Jake Smeenk, forcing the punt.
Dayton drove the ball for a Jordan McCowen to Denver Hutchens touchdown strike at 8:41 in the third, Hutchens spiking the ball in his excitement. McCowen's run was stopped and Dayton had the first lead, 6-0.
Sunnyside hit right back with a 50-yard touchdown scamper by Smeenk 19 seconds later. Byron Collier intercepted the point-after pass and the score was tied, 6-6.
Dayton's next push was halted by a fumble and SSC was in good field position, scoring on a Tyler Golob three-yard punch. The PAT was incomplete and the Knights led 12-6.
The Bulldog's next drive was helped by a fourth and 11 conversion of McCowen to Hutchens that got further help from a quarterback keeper for 11 yards to the Knight 22 yard line, and a 12-yard run by Collier, who then punched in from the one yard line to knot the score 12-12.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Golob cleared Dawg tacklers for a 59-yard hustle for six at 11:49. The point after failed for an 18-12 score. Sunnyside scored again a 8:18 on a 21-yard Golob run, and the point after was good for the final 26-12 score.
Sunnyside Christian 26, Dayton 12 (9/13)
Day 0 0 12 0-12
SSC 0 0 12 14-26
