‘Dawgs close season

The Lexington Bulldogs lost a heart-breaking 49-46 Class 2A playoff game against the Lindsay Leopards last Friday night.

The Bulldogs saw their season end with a 6-5 record. 

Lexington recovered a Lindsay fumble at the 27-yard line in the first quarter. Quarterback Colton Penner scored on a sweep to give the ‘Dawgs a 6-0 lead. 

On the very next Lex series, Lindsay’s Austin Stroud intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick was good and that gave the Leopards a 7-6 lead.

Lindsay upped its lead to 14-6 when Stroud ran in from 13 yards out. The Leopards scored again with 3:04 in the first quarter to take a 20-6 advantage.

Lexington scored next  when Destrie Shea took the pigskin in from about 15 yards out. The two-point conversion was no good.

Lindsay scored with about seven minutes left before halftime, making the score 27-12.

Lindsay scored again on another 13-yard run by Emery. The two-point try failed but the Leopards were ahead, 33-12.

Lexington made the score, 33-20 before halftime when Penner found Dylan Cottrell open for a 48-yard touchdown pass. The two-point play to Dylan Cottrell was good.

Lindsay’s Chance Austin hauled in a 77-yard touchdown pass in the third and the two-point conversion was good, giving the Leopards a 41-20 advantage.

Cottrell caught another 32-yard scoring pass from Penner cutting the margin to 41-26 as the scoreboard went out for good.

Lindsey scored another touchdown and a two-point conversion to make the score 49-26 in the third quarter.

The ‘Dawgs weren’t out of the game yet, however.

Jaylen Cottrell caught a touchdown pass but the two-pointer failed leaving the score 49-34 in the third. 

Penner’s touchdown romp cut the gap to 49-40.

In the fourth quarter, Nathan Clegg, who had seven rushes for 44 yards, had a huge gain to the 39-yard line of Lindsay.

 Penner eventually ran the ball in, making the tally 49-46. On the final play of the game – with Lex deep in Lindsay territory at the 13-yard line – the snap was fumbled and Lex’s season was over.

“The fans got their money’s worth,” Berglan said after the game.

“When you go to a playoff game and it’s a 49-46 barnburner like we had, the people have to be happy with the game they got to see. Like I told the guys after the game, it hurts to lose in the playoffs. They can’t be disappointed because life throws you lots of curveballs.”

Berglan continued on his baseball analogy: “Throughout the game, we were getting served 100-mile-per-hour fastballs followed by 60-mile-per-hour changeups and maybe an 85-mile-per-hour curveballBut, we stayed in the box and swung away.

“At one point we were down, 49-26. But, our guys buckled down and they stood up strong. Unfortunately, the clock (on the scoreboard) didn’t work in the second half. The officials were trying their best to decide the time. We just came up short. That’s all there is to it. No blame or nothing. I credit Lindsay with a great ball game. Somebody’s got to win and somebody’s got lose.

 “We did well coming out and we played hard,” senior Nathana Clegg said. “Like all the seniors can say, we left our hearts out on the field.”

Penner had a good game but he misfired on two interceptions. He was 14-of-27 passing for 287 yards and four touchdowns.

“We should have come out hitting them hard right at the beginning. I should have made better decisions. I had those picks or we might have scored on all those drives. I feel like I could have played a better game for my team.”

Berglan was profoundly proud of the effort Clegg and the ‘Dawgs gave Friday night.

“That’s why we as coaches do this,” Berglan said. “It keeps us young being around the kids. I’ve wanted to be a coach since I was in seventh grade. My son Dallan wants to be a coach because he loves it. It hurts for the seniors. But, they’ve taken us to the playoffs two years in a row now.

“Now, it’s up to the under classmen to make it three in a row and get us over the hump – one of those teams that nobody wants to play come the playoffs.” 

‘Dawg Notes:

Lexington head coach Dale Berglan nominated Blake Dunaway as the Lexington Offensive Lineman Player of the Week. Dunaway graded out at 75-percent. Colton Penner was the Offensive Player of the Week with 287 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Avery Armstead was named Lex’s Defensive Lineman Player of the Week with eight tackles. Kyston Wheat was named Defensive Player of the Week for the ‘Dawgs with 12 tackles.