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Lex advances to playoffs

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The Lexington Bulldogs lost to the Washington Warriors, 55-6, last Friday night.

The game ended the regular season for both the ‘Dawgs and the Warriors. Lexington ended up 6-4 overall and 5-2 in district play.

Both teams are headed to the playoffs. Lexington will travel to Lindsay (8-2, 6-1 in District) for a 7:30 p.m. showdown on Friday.

Lexington started with a pregame salute to the seniors, including cross-country teams and the band. 

Things looked good for the ‘Dawgs on the football field at the beginning.

After senior receiver Jaylen Cottrell caught an 18-yard pass from quarterback Colton Penner, running back Nathan Clegg ran the ball in from one-yard out. The two-point conversion failed but the score gave Lex a short-lived 6-0 lead with 6:29 to go in the first quarter.

From there, Washington simply took control. Senior running back Lance Spaulding, who would amass 166 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries, scored his first TD of the game. Kaden Dubois kicked the extra point for a 7-6 Washington lead.

Three more Spaulding scores gave Washington a 28-6 advantage at the half.

“We had a good first drive,” Berglan said at the half. “We went down the field and got us a score. But, we haven’t been able to stop them yet. Two of our biggest boys – Dallan (Berglan) and Cam (Conner) – are banged up and we had to pull them.

“Plain and simple Washington just whipped us up front on both sides of the ball. They  were more physical than us.

Three more scores for the Warriors in the second half, and they ran away with the 55-6 victory.

“I think we came in with a big head,” Cottrell said. “We didn’t expect this to happen. We came out on the first drive and scored on them. But, the rest of the game didn’t go our way. Washington is just a pretty darn good team. They’re physical, for sure.

“We haven’t faced a rushing game like theirs the whole year. They just came out and pounded us in the mouth. We thought we could stop them but things went their way.”

Last year, Washington beat Lexington, 35-13 but this year the Warriors simply kept marching like the Energizer Bunny toward the end zone time and again.

Berglan had nothing but superlatives to give to Washington.

“It was a good old-fashioned butt whipping by the Warriors,” Berglan said. “They came out and hit us in the mouth. We had one good drive and that was about it. They outplayed us in every facet of the game. They did a very good job.

“They’re probably the most explosive team we’ve seen,” Berglan said. “They come off the ball well up front and their receivers throw good blocks and run crisp routes. Their running game is extremely strong.

“They’re just an explosive team. Defensively, they are very sound and very physical. That’s why they’re one of the top teams in the state.”

The regular season is now over. Lexington is in the playoffs. What are the ‘Dawgs going to do to make it past the Lindsay Leopards next week and make the second round of the playoffs?

“It’s going to take all of our effort and physicality,” Cottrell said. “If we can do that, we should beat them.”

“We need to get healthy,” Berglan said. “We had three linemen go down tonight including Dalton Mathews, Dallan and Cam. We just have to put together a complete game for this week against Lindsay. Our M.O. is as a physical, powerful team. We just need to show it next week. We’ll need to control the clock and be balanced on offense – run and pass.”

Dawg Notes: 

Lexington head coach Dale Berglan nominated Dalton Mathews as the team’s Offensive Lineman Player of the Week. Mathews graded out at 78 percent. 

The Offensive Player of the Week for the ‘Dawgs was Nathan Clegg who ran for 49 yards on 11 carries and the lone touchdown.

The Defensive Lineman of the Week was Avery Armstead with six tackles. The Defensive Player of the Week nomination went to Kyston Wheat, who recorded 12 tackles against Washington.

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