ACH bumps Bulldogs from further post season play

COULEE CITY–The Almira-Coulee-Hartline Warriors racked up 30 first-quarter points in the Dayton Bulldogs' first play-off game in years, finishing the Dawgs' season with a 58-20 crossover win here last Friday.

The loss ended the youthful Dawg squad's season with a 4-5 record in a season with wins over Yakama Tribal, Tekoa-Rosalia, St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse and a forfeit win in the first round of the playoffs.

"This was our first play off game in a long time," said Head Coach Lucas Collier, adding that the team struggled to compete and "keep their heads held high" against the highly ranked Warriors.

Dayton's touchdowns were scored by Denver Hutchens, two on passes from Bulldog quarterback Jordan McCowen, and one on a hook-and-ladder in the fourth quarter. "They double teamed Hutchens all night," Collier said.

McCowen hit Hutchens for a 56-yard score in the second quarter, but by then ACH had the game wrapped up with a 36-6 lead. The Dawgs' other touchdown was on a 14-yard touchdown throw to Hutchens.

In the fourth quarter, Silas Czapka gathered in the McCowen pass and flipped it to Hutchens for a 74-yard hook-and-ladder.

McCowen completed 10 of 24 passes for 42% and 239 yards through the air.

"We would get the ball moving," the coach said, "then it'd stop. We weren't sticking to our blocks."

Cody Chapman, Dayton's offensive coordinator, would direct the offense on a drive, but then it would fall off, Collier said.

The Warriors' Caden Correia opened with a 28-yard touchdown to kick off scoring for ACH. Carter Pitts dove three yards to pay dirt to make it 16-0. Brady Roberts galloped 73 yards for six and Jameson Conley caught a 30-yard strike for the Warriors' 30-0 first-quarter lead.

After ACH scored again on a 31-yard Correia to Harvest Parrish throw, the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter. After Hutchens's second touchdown of the quarter, the teams went into half time with 52-12 on the scoreboard.

Dayton fielded eight high school athletes and brought up four eighth graders to round out the team for the game: Wyatt Huwe, Dylan Brown, Luke Collier and Gavin Durham.

"All four of those kids made plays," Collier said. "Huwe had seven yards rushing and two tackles; Dylan made a tackle, and Luke and Gavin helped shut down the middle.

"Going into next year, those four are going to be tremendously that much better," Collier said, "especially with a game against the number three ranked ACH High school under their belts."

Out of the eight high schoolers on the field, Collier said three are true freshmen.

ACH 58, Dayton 20 (11-8)

Day 0 12 0 8-20

ACH 30 22 6 0-58