Sixmanfootball.com predicted that Motley County would beat the Spur Bulldogs in Friday’s night game by 21 points. After all, the Bulldogs were “only” rated #20 in the state in Division 2 six-man, and the Matadors were sitting at #3 in the state in Division 1 six-man.
They were wrong.
In a high scoring, back-and-forth tussle going all four quarters, Spur prevailed 76-74.
Even though the Bulldogs had the home-field advantage, from the coin toss to the final knee on the ground, the Matadors came to play.
On the opening kickoff, Motley County executed an onside kick that Spur fumbled. The Matadors quickly capitalized on the turnover in three plays to make the first touchdown of the night with a good extra point. With 8:42 left in the first quarter, Motley County jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
But it only took Spur a minute — literally — to come charging back. With 7:40 left in first quarter, they knotted it up 8-8.
However, Motley County moved the ball back down the field to the end zone. With 5:21 left in the first quarter, they scored a TD, but did not get the extra points. Their lead was 14-8.
In a matter of seconds after the Bulldogs received the kickoff and advanced the ball to the 39 yard line with 5:04 left in the first quarter, quarterback Francisco Hernandez pitched the ball to running back Ethan Parsons, who then found receiver Jacob Cole, who then ran the ball in for a Bulldog six, but Spur got no extra point, so the score stayed tied 14-14.
Through several sweep and dive plays, the Matadors got past the Bulldogs and scored another touchdown with an extra point with 4:13 left in the first quarter, making the score 22-14. Despite a series of incomplete passes and a penalty, the Bulldogs answered with Hernandez passing to Cole in the end zone for a touchdown with 2:08 left in first quarter, bringing the score to 22-20. Spur held Matador to end the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Matador marched down the field and earned a TD but no extra point, and the score went to 28-20 with 8:27 left in the second quarter. Spur came right back after the kickoff with Hernandez passing to Corey Hamilton for a touchdown but no extra points, so the Bulldogs still trailed 28-26.
Matador advanced the ball through a combination of run and pass plays that resulted in a touchdown with 5:26 left in the second quarter, bringing the score to 36-26. Spur answered with a TD. Hernandez handed off the ball to Le’Zhane Walker who ran it in with 4:33 left in the second quarter, bringing the Bulldogs to within four at 36-32.
The Matador offense, however, would not be deterred by the Bulldog defense as they made their way in for a touchdown with 3:05 left in the second quarter, not gaining the extra point, and advancing the score to 42-32. Spur answered back with a touchdown as they advanced the ball on the Matadors with 2:55 left in the second quarter, bringing the score to within two, 42-40.
But the Matadors weren’t done. They again moved the ball with a series of run and pass plays and scored a touchdown on a run play with 0:38 left in the second quarter, making the score 50-40. Despite only a handful of seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs did not give up. Hernandez passed to Cole for a long touchdown to bring Spur within two, 50-48, with 0:26 left in the second quarter. The half ended with a sliver of a lead for Motley County.
The second half started with another Matador touchdown. With 5:10 left in the third quarter, the score was 58-48. The Bulldogs came right back with completed passes to Beau Martinez and Cole. Spur scored a touchdown with a pass to Zage Barron with 1:56 left in the third quarter, advancing the score to 58-56.
The Matadors continued to answer back with a touchdown with 0:35 left in the third quarter, moving the score to 66-56.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Corey Hamilton ran the ball in for a touchdown with 8:44 left in fourth quarter to make the score 66-62. This time the Bulldog defense stood tough and caused the ball to turn over on downs. The Bulldogs took advantage and scored a TD run in by Hamilton with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter, giving Spur its first lead of the game, 68-66.
The Matador offense again answered by completing a pass for a touchdown with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 74-68. The Bulldogs responded, passing the ball to Hamilton who ran it in for a touchdown with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter, putting Spur ahead 76-74. With 0:54 left in the fourth quarter, Matador passed the ball to an open receiver who fell short of a first down, causing the ball to turn over on downs.
The Bulldogs held the line and outlasted a very tough Motley County team, 76-74.
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