Bulldogs Axed by Lumberjacks, 43-10
Crockett Falls to 1-1 in District
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT – The Crockett Bulldogs welcomed the Diboll Lumberjacks to Monte Jack Driskell Stadium for a District 11-3A DI matchup on Friday, Oct. 4.
The Bulldogs came into the game with a record of 3-1 and a district mark of 1-0 after they dispatched the Trinity Tigers the week before by a final score of 45-0.
Diboll, meanwhile, came into the contest with a mark of 4-0 and a #8 ranking in Class 3A. The Jacks defense had allowed only 24 points in four games while the offense had put up 158.
The game started off fairly evenly matched. The Jacks took the early lead when D’aris McMillan bulled his way into the end with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. The try for two was unsuccessful but Diboll had drawn first blood and led 6-0.
Crockett’s next possession was highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Jordan Bedford to Shannon Bacon which moved the Bulldogs inside the Jacks five-yard line. The drive stalled there, unfortunately, and Crockett settled for a 23-yard Antonio Cruz field goal.
The FG cut the lead to 6-3 and after Crockett held Diboll to a three-and-out on their next series, the Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead.
Disaster struck, however, as Diboll’s Jeremiah Gums picked off a Bedford pass and returned it 30-yards for a pick-six to give Diboll a 12-3 lead. The Adrian Garcia PAT was good and as the first quarter came to a close, the Lumberjacks led 13-3.
As the second quarter got underway, Diboll returned the favor. After a Crockett punt, the Lumberjacks were driving and had moved inside the Crockett red zone. Diboll QB Dylan Maskunas dropped back to pass and was pursued by a host of Bulldogs. Maskunas launched a pass to the end zone but Jalyne Carruthers stepped in front of the Diboll receiver for an interception in the end zone.
Crockett took over and began a lengthy drive behind the running of Joseph Porter, Jr. and Amyron Dixon. The Bulldogs drove deep into Lumberjack territory and on first down from the Diboll 24, Bedford found his big tight end Allen Horace on a spinning, leaping catch in the back of the end zone for six.
The Cruz PAT was good and made the score 13-10, in favor of Diboll, with nine minutes left to play in the half.
The Lumberjacks were beset by turnovers during the next five minutes of the quarter but the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize. With two minutes left before halftime, the Jacks had the ball at the Crockett 40. This time Maskunas didn’t miss as he found wide-out Demaria Cook on a fly pattern for a TD. The Garcia extra point was good and pushed the Lumberjacks lead to 20-10.
A Crockett miscue gave the ball right back to Diboll and Garcia was able to tack on a FG before the end of the half to make the score 23-10 at the break.
After halftime, it was all Diboll as the Crockett defense couldn’t find an answer for McMillan who scored three times in the second half to push the final score out to 43-10 in favor of Diboll.
Crockett hits the road next week as they travel to Rosehill Christian School in Tomball to take on the Tomball Christian Warriors in a non-district game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
