‘Dawgs hosting Purcell Friday

Lexington hosts Purcell at 7 p.m. Friday at Floyd West Field in the annual “Battle for the Bridge.”

Coached by Tracy Scott, the Dragons are 3-5 overall and 2-3 in District 2A-3 play.

Purcell lost to Community Christian, 28-21, last week.

Lexington dropped to 1-6 on the season and 0-4 in district play last Thursday night when the ‘Dawgs traveled to Bethel who pinned a 47-6 loss on the Bulldogs.

Bethel’s offense was dominating racking up 457 yards while holding Lexington to 172 total yards.

Bethel scored on a 35-yard touchdown run by Corey Metscher but missed the PAT kick to go up 6-0 early.

A 58-yard run by quarterback Jesse Tucker widened the lead to 13-0. They eventually led 34-0 at halftime.

Lexington receiver Dylan Cottrell suffered an injury in the second quarter and didn’t play for the rest of the game.

“We haven’t played very well and we haven’t executed,” Lexington Head Coach Keith Bolles said. 

Lexington quarterback Heath Winterton scored the only points for the ‘Dawgs when he ran for a 30-yard touchdown with 9:34 left in the game. Lexington’s two-point conversion failed, leaving the score 41-6.

Bolles put in freshman quarterback Ean Caywood late in the game. He showed some promise in mop-up duty behind center, completing 2-of-4 passes for 16 yards and running six times for 27 yards  including a nifty 20-yard jaunt.

With the announcement that all OSSAA teams will make the playoffs due to game cancellations this season because of the coronavirus, Lexington  is looking to win its final two regular-season games so they can go into the post-season with some confidence.

Bolles acknowledged the Bethel game showed several holes in the Lexington attack on both sides of the ball.

“It was a tough game,” Bolles said. “We have to find a way to hang on to the football and start off a little faster. We have to work on all facets of our game. We’ll go back to the drawing board and come back to practice ready to go for Purcell.

“Bethel played really well on defense and I give them credit. But, we have to do some things differently on offense and that’s what we’re going to work on.”

Bolles would like nothing more than to see his ‘Dawgs go into the playoffs with a couple of victories to end the regular season, rather than limping in with two defeats.

“You want to enter the playoffs on the high note with a victory,” Bolles said. “We’ve got Purcell this Friday, CCS the next Friday, and we just want to get better and go into the playoffs with gumption and looking like a playoff team.”

Winterton was 4-of-9 passing for 20 yards and he carried the ball 14 times for 97 yards and the lone Lexington score.

Lexington wasn’t able to convert on any of its 12 third-down situations. The ‘Dawgs played a clean game, getting just three penalties for 13 yards while Bethel drew 13 flags for 91 yards.

Bulldog notes:

Lexington Head Coach Keith Bolles nominated Heath Winterton as the team’s Offensive Player of the Week for Winterton’s 117 yards of total offense. Bolles also nominated Jimmy Northrup as the team’s Defensive Player of the Week for his four tackles.

Lexington’s Offensive Lineman of the Week is Wyatt Webb, who graded out at 70 percent. The Defensive Lineman of the Week for the ‘Dawgs is Avery Armstead, who recorded six total tackles including one for a loss of yardage against Bethel last Thursday.