The Dodge County Indians hosted the Lucy Laney Wildcats at Memorial Stadium in Eastman this past Friday night. This was the first region game of the 2011 season. Both teams came into the game with a 1-1 record. Dodge County was looking to keep their win streak alive against a tough Laney team.
Dodge won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Laney received the opening kickoff. Laney returned the kickoff but was met by Dodge’s defense. Laney started their first drive of the game on their own 31-yard line. Laney didn’t move the ball as they were held by Dodge’s Curtis Rushing, # 8, on defense. After an incomplete pass, Laney faced a third down and four. Laney’s quarterback fumbled the ball on the 46-yard line and Dodge’s Curtis Rushing, # 8, recovered the football and returned it back to the 41-yard line of Laney.
Dodge started their drive downfield with a McNair handoff to Marcus Brown, # 3, for a gain of three yards. A McNair incomplete pass and a drive up the middle resulted in Dodge having to punt on fourth down. Walt Turner, # 86, punted the ball into the end zone for a touchback. Laney would take possession of the football on their 20-yard line.
Laney played in I-formation and pushed the ball up field for three consecutive first downs into Indian territory on the 25-yard line. Laney’s quarterback (Myers) showed an impressive passing game to get the Wildcats to the 11-yard line. But a quarterback sack by Dodge’s Marlek Lamb, # 7, and an illegal procedure penalty against the Wildcats forced a fourth and twenty-two on Dodge’s 25-yard line. Laney decided to go for a first down and a complete pass resulted in a touchdown run into the end zone. Laney scored the first points of the first quarter. The extra point attempt failed and Laney led the game 6-0.
After a Laney kickoff, Dodge returned the ball to the 43-yard line. The Indians didn’t get their momentum going and as a result were penalized for a holding penalty followed by an incomplete pass. Turner was forced to punt the ball on fourth and ten. The first quarter of play ended.
Laney started another impressive drive downfield with a combination of passes and rushes. The Wildcats drove quickly into Indian territory to the 25-yard line. Dodge’s defensive line held the Wildcats and on fourth down and four broke up a pass play. The Indians took over on first down with eight minutes of play left in the first half.
The Indians marched down field with two consecutive first downs to the 44-yard line. It wasn’t enough to keep the momentum alive and the Wildcats held the Indians. Turner punted the ball away on fourth and six with five minutes of play left in the first half.
Laney returned the punt to the 44-yard line. On their second play of the drive, Laney made a 45-yard run into the end zone for a touchdown. Laney attempted a two-point conversion and converted into the end zone for an additional two points. Laney led with a score of 14 and Dodge 0.
After a Laney kickoff, Rushing returned the ball to their 17-yard line. Dodge began an impressive drive up field and with four consecutive first downs, found themselves on the Laney 24-yard line with just over a minute of play left in the first half. On first and ten, McNair would hand the ball off to Rushing and Rushing ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point attempt by Turner was blocked. The score was Laney 14 and Dodge 6 with 9 seconds of play left in the first half.
Dodge kicked the ball off to Laney and Laney started a drive with seven seconds of play left in the first half. Laney fumbled the ball on first down and Dodge recovered the ball. But time ran out and it was halftime.
Dodge received the opening third quarter kickoff and Rushing returned the ball to the 26-yard line. The Indians didn’t get a drive going and was forced to punt on fourth down.
Laney took over on their 36-yard line. Laney would move the ball only to the 42-yard line as the defensive line of Dodge continued to stop the Wildcats. Laney punted on fourth down and Dodge took over on their 49-yard line. Dodge would push to the 41-yard line of Laney. On fourth down and one, Dodge opted to go for the first down but was unsuccessful on the play. Laney took over on first and ten on their 41-yard line.
Laney moved the ball into Indian territory with two consecutive first downs. On first and ten, Laney scored with a 45-yard run for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful. The score with three minutes left to play in the third quarter was Laney 20 and Dodge 6.
After the kickoff, Dodge began play on first and ten on their 10-yard line. McNair attempted several incomplete passes and was forced to punt on fourth down. Laney took over on Dodge’s 38-yard line. Laney’s offensive line fell apart and on fourth down and seven was called with offense interference. The call and penalty gave Dodge the football on Laney’s 49-yard line. Dodge moved the ball down field to the 25-yard line of Laney. On second and eight, McNair found Javier Spencer, # 12, and Spencer scored a touchdown. The extra point attempt by Turner was good and the score was Laney 20 and Dodge 13.
Dodge kicked off to Laney and Laney dominated much of the fourth quarter and marched up field using the time on the clock. Laney would score another touchdown on the long drive. The extra point attempt was no good and the score was Laney 26 and Dodge 13.
Dodge would get the ball back with only 56-seconds left in the fourth quarter. Laney intercepted the ball on a pass with nine seconds left in the ballgame. Final score was Laney 26 and Dodge 13.
The Indians (1-2) will travel to Swainsboro on Friday, September 16, for a region game against the Tigers of Swainsboro High School (0-2). The Tigers are looking for their first win of the season. Swainsboro leads the series over Dodge three games to two. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Swainsboro.
