The Wayne Bulldogs moved to 3-0 on the season with a 52-13 victory over the Lexington Bulldogs last Friday night.

Eli Stottlemeyer kicked off the scoring with a one yard plunge with 4:02 left in the first quarter. The Wayne signal caller found Riley Taylor for the two-point conversion to put Wayne ahead 8-0.

Stottlemeyer took matters into his own hands once again with a three-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. This time around Tyler Collins handled the two-point conversion attempt and the Bulldogs led 16-zip.

Only 45 seconds later Wayne was back in the end zone thanks to a 53-yard scamper by Collins. Stottlemeyer converted the two-point conversion once again and the Wayne lead increased to 24-0.

With 4:52 remaining in the second Stottlemeyer turned to the air, hooking up with his buddy Lucas Hanna for a nine-yard touchdown.

With just over a minute remaining in the half Stottlemetyer hit pay dirt once again on a  short four-yard run to extend the lead to 36-0.

But Wayne wasn't finished in the first half. With nine seconds remaining Stottlemeyer found an open Jake Turner for a nifty 47-yard touchdown completion. Stottlemeyer connected with Langston McClendon on the two-point try and Wayne led 44-0 at the half.

“We came out flat and they got us with an onside kick to start the game,” head coach Brandon Sharp said.

“They drove the ball on us a bit after the onside kick but our defense bowed up and held them.”

Immediately after the defensive stop Stottlemeyer threw an interception to give the ball right back to Lexington.

“We ran a bootleg and Eli got picked off but the defense stepped up again and got the ball back to our offense. After that sequence our offense got going,” Sharp said.

Wayne scored their final touchdown on a Stottlemeyer nine yard keeper with four minutes left in the third. The quarterback handled the two-point conversion once again and Wayne led 52-0.

Lexington tacked on two late scores keeping Wayne from the shutout.

“Eli had a good game and Tyler Collins ran the ball well,” Sharp noted.

Stottlemery, Collins and the rest of the Wayne backfield found success thanks to the efforts of the Wayne offensive line.

Lane Canfield, Zeke Gavia, Zach Norton, Nate Isaiah and Ryder Alexander paved the way for their skilled teammates all night.

“Those guys played really well and blocked well all night,” Sharp said.

“They continue to get better each week and do what we ask of them.”

The Wayne head ball coach was also pleased with the blocking of his receivers and running backs.

“Everyone contributed. Our receivers blocked well and we had great blocking on the edge which allowed us to run the ball,” Sharp confirmed.

“Jake Turner made a big catch and got in the end zone just before the half to really put it out of reach.”

Sharp said he was not pleased with the amount of mental errors that resulted in penalties for Wayne.

“We had way too many penalties and mental mistakes. I can handle the holding penalties but its the self-inflicted mental mistakes that really hurt us,” Sharp said.

“I was pleased but we need to continue to get better. Our effort was there and we did what we needed to do to win.”

On the defensive side of the ball Lexington came out slinging the ball around the field but the Wayne secondary kept them at bay.

“They were spread out and were trying to throw the ball everywhere,” Sharp said.

“I was really pleased with our secondary with how many times they threw the ball. Our whole defense got after them pretty good all night.”

Wayne held Lexington to 12 total yards through the first three quarters of the game.

Hannah, McClendon, Turner, Stottlemeyer and Jeremiah Peterson drew praise from the head coach for their efforts in the back end all night.

“All of those guys played well shutting down their passing game from the beginning,” Sharp said.

Sharp and his staff were also pleased with the play of the front seven not letting Lexington get any momentum on the ground.

“Our front seven didn't let them get out of the gates and made them throw short routes all night. Those guys upfront also played a part in keeping their completions down. I was pleased with the defense's effort,” Sharp said.

Sharp noted the play of Taylor from his Mike linebacker spot with five tackles while Stottlemeyer had an interception to go along with his impressive play on the offensive side of the ball.

Stottlemeyer carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards and four touchdowns and was 4-6 through the air for 76 yards and two touchdowns. His backfield mate Collins finished the evening with 151 yards on only 11 carries and a touchdown.

Wayne is off this week thanks to starting the season in week zero.

“We will get out and iron out some of our boneheaded mistakes this week. We want to continue to try and get better up front and in the run game,” Sharp said.

Sharp noted that his troops are fairly healthy minus a few nicks and bruises.

“We will get them healed up going into District play next week,” Sharp said.

Bulldog notes:

Coach Brandon Sharp nominated Eli Stottlemeyer for Offensive Player of the Week. The Wayne signal caller carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards and four touchdowns and was 4-6 through the air for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Lane Canfield was Sharp's nomination for Offensive Lineman of the Week grading out at 82 percent.

Sharp did not have any Defensive Player of the Week nominees.