By Chad W. Smith
The Dodge County Indian football team traveled to Augusta on Friday, September 25 to take on the Laney Wildcats. The Indians improved their record to 2-3 with a good 20-6 win over the Wildcats. Coach Lee Campbell commented, “This was a good win, the kids fought hard, especially after two straight weeks of close games where we ended up on the short end. I am extremely proud of our team to bounce back and the get the job done!”
Laney received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into Indian territory before they fumbled the ball and Dodge recovered at their own 22-yard line. Dodge could move no further than the 49-yard line of the Wildcats before having to punt. Both teams moved the ball well in the first and second quarters but neither team could punch the ball through for a score until the Indians finally scored on a one-yard touchdown run by Cyprin Burse with 49.5 seconds left in the second quarter. Cole Evans’ point after kick was good and Dodge led 7-0. Laney wasted little time before scoring a touchdown of their own with 7.1 seconds left. The point after kick was no good and Dodge led 7-6 at halftime.
The third quarter was much like the first and second quarters with both teams moving the ball up down the field and no scoring until 35 seconds left in the quarter. The Wildcats were backed up on their own four-yard line after an Indian punt. After a gain of two yards to the six-yard line, the Wildcats fumbled the ball and Dodge County Indian Leonard Floyd recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The Indians took a 14-6 lead after Evans’ point after touchdown (PAT) was good.
On the Indians next possession they put together a 10-play 53-yard drive. Burse gained the first ten yards of the drive on the first play before Laquan Hogue took over the next nine plays and gained 43 yards scoring on a three-yard run with 6:12 left in the game. Evans’ PAT was good and Dodge took control 20-6. Laney returned the next kickoff back to the Indians 39-yard line but two plays later Burse intercepted a Wildcat pass with 5:07 left in the game and the Indians took over at their own 25-yard line. The Indians ran some time out on this possession but eventually punted the ball back to Laney. Dodge again intercepted a Wildcat pass with 1:40 left and then ran the clock out to take a huge region victory 20-6.
The Indians gained 13 first downs with 255 yards of total offense with 167 on the ground and 88 through the air. Offensive leaders for Dodge were: Cyprin Burse had 82 yards rushing on 28 attempts and one touchdown; Laquan Hogue had 77 yards rushing on 12 attempts and one touchdown; Shawn Honeycutt completed eight passes on 10 attempts for 88 yards and no interceptions.
The Dodge defense held Laney to six first downs on 151 yards of total offense with 78 rushing and 73 passing. Defensive leaders for Dodge were: Kyree Davidson had five and a half tackles and seven assists; Cyprin Burse had three and a half tackles, five assists and one interception; Laquan Hogue had three and a half tackles and three assists; Michael Austin had three and half tackles and three assists; Leonard Floyd had three tackles with two assists and a fumble recovery for a touchdown; Herschel Anderson had two and half tackles with five assists; Julious McCoy had two and a half tackles with one assist; Tucker Stonecypher had two tackles with two assists.
The Indians have off this week, but will be back at home on Friday, October 9 to take on the Toombs County Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m.
