The Dodge County Indians hosted the Toombs County Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium in Eastman this past Friday night for their first home game of the season. Both the Indians and the Bulldogs were looking for their first win of the 2011 season. The Indians won last year’s battle between these teams and were looking to keep their winning streak alive with another win.
Toombs won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Dodge County received the opening kickoff. Curtis Rushing, #8, returned the ball 10-yards. The Indian started their first drive on their own 31-yard line. A first down off side penalty against Toombs resulted in a 5-yard gain and the Indians began play on first and five on their 36-yard line. D’Eric McNair, #11, handed the ball off up the middle and the Indians fumbled the ball. Toombs took over on the Indian 36-yard line.
The Bulldogs began their first drive with two consecutive penalties and found themselves first and twenty on the 36-yard line. On this drive, a personal foul penalty against Dodge moved the football into the scoring zone of Dodge. Toombs pushed the ball to the 12-yard line of Dodge. Dodge’s defense led by Leonard Floyd, #83, prevented Toombs from scoring. An illegal motion penalty on Toombs put the football on the 17-yard line with fourth down. Toombs opted to go for a first down and the pass was incomplete giving Dodge the football on their 17-yard line with four minutes left in the first quarter.
The Indians started their second possession of the ballgame with a 23-yard run by quarterback D’Eric McNair, #11. Dodge continued to move the ball into Bulldog territory. On third down and eleven, McNair threw a pass to Rushing and Rushing ran the ball 51-yards for a touchdown. But a holding penalty against Dodge brought the ball back and Bulldogs’ defense held them. On fourth and eleven, Dodge’s Walt Turner, #86, kicked a 46-yard punt .The Bulldogs took over on their 20-yard line. They would move the ball to the 39-yard line. The Indians’ defense would hold the line and Toombs had to punt on fourth and six. Dodge’s Dana Northcutt, #2, returned the punt to the 37-yard line of Dodge. On third and eight, McNair passed to Rushing and Rushing ran 53-yards for a touchdown. Turner kicked the extra point and Dodge took the lead 7-0 with five minutes left to play in the second quarter.
After a long kickoff by Turner, the Bulldogs would take possession on their 7-yard line. The Bulldogs were penalized for holding and was forced to punt the ball on fourth and eight. Dodge took over on their 40-yard line. Dodge moved the ball five yards but found themselves with a holding penalty and was forced to punt on fourth down.
Turner kicked a 37-yard punt and Toombs took over on their 23-yard line. The Bulldogs did not get momentum and after several penalties were forced to punt and Dodge would take over on their 35-yard line with three minutes left until halftime. Toombs’ defense held the Indians and the Indians found themselves with a fourth and fourteen.
Dodge’s Walt Turner punted the ball but on the play, the Bulldogs touched Turner and a roughing the kicker penalty resulted. Dodge would benefit with a first down. In the second play of this drive, McNair threw an interception with five seconds remaining in the half. Toombs took over on the 7-yard line of Dodge. Toombs did not score as time on the clock expired. Halftime score was Dodge 7 and Toombs 0.
Third quarter play began with Dodge kicking to Toombs. Toombs started on their 35-yard line. Dodge’s Terrance Daniels, #77, sacked the quarterback on the first play. On second and ten, Toombs would fumble and Dodge came away with the ball. Dodge would take over on the Toombs 35-yard line. Dodge ran the ball to the 26-yard line of Toombs but would soon found themselves plagued with penalties. Dodge was forced to punt the ball on fourth and twenty-eight.
Toombs took over on their 23-yard line. Toombs was able to get a drive going and moved the ball to their 47-yard line. Dodge’s defense was able to hold them led by Marvin Butler, #34 and Leonard Floyd, #83. Toombs was forced to punt and Dodge took over on their 20-yard line.
Dodge drove the ball for three consecutive first downs and into Toombs territory. And, after a personal foul penalty against Toombs, Dodge would have second and four on Toomb’s 33 yard-line. Dodge fumbled the football and Toombs took over with first and ten on their 35-yard line. This was the end of third quarter play.
In the fourth quarter, Toombs drove the ball to the Indian 39-yard line with three consecutive first downs. Dodge’s defense held the Bulldogs and forced Toombs to punt.
Dodge took over on their 30-yard line and after three plays was forced to punt. Toombs fumbled the ball on the punt return and the Indians regained the ball on the 39-yard line of Toombs. The Indian offense was unsuccessful to get a momentum going and Toombs took over on their 16-yard line. Toombs would drive the ball with several pass completions to their 47-yard line. On fourth down, Toombs would attempt to go for a first down. The pass was incomplete as Dodge’s Marvin Butler would breakdown the play.
Dodge took over first down on the Toombs 47-yard line. On first and ten, Marcus Brown, #3, would take the ball into the end zone for a Dodge touchdown. Turner’s extra point was good and Dodge would lead 13-0. The extra point by Turner was good.
Toombs began their last drive of the game on their 20-yard line. Dodge intercepted the ball intended for a Toombs County receiver. Dodge would take possession with two minutes left in the game. Dodge kept possession of the ball moving it up field as time on the clock expired.
Final score, Dodge 14 and Toombs 0.
The Indians (1-1) will play their first region game on Friday, September 9, in Eastman against Laney. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Show your support and wear red on Fridays.
