By Roger Propst
rpropst@frontiernet.net
Calhoun's inexperienced and short on numbers football team opened its 2006 season on the road at Doddridge Middle School on Thursday evening. With twenty-four eighth graders moving up to the Red Devil varsity team from last year's CWVAC championship team, this year's team is left to rebuild with only 16 players in uniform.
The game opened with Calhoun kicking off to the Bobcats who moved the ball downfield on the ground, taking 11 plays to reach pay dirt at the 2:41 mark of the 1st quarter. The two-point conversion was good and Doddridge led, 8-0.
Tyler Bennett took the kickoff to the CMS 32 yard line. The Red Devils could not make a 1st down and went into punt formation. A high snap sailed over the punter's head and Doddridge covered the football at the CMS 25-yard line. The Bulldogs would need only four plays to score the touchdown and increase their lead to 14-0 with 7:13 remaining in the 2nd quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Bobcat kickoff was covered by Caden Arnold at the Calhoun 37 yard line. The Red Devils moved the ball for a 1st down, but a 3rd down resulted in a 4th and 20 at the 37-yard line. A fake punt was stopped short and Doddridge took over at the 50-yard line.
Doddridge would take only two plays, a 15-yard run, and a 35-yard run on a broken play for the score at the 2:00 mark of the 2nd quarter. After a successful two-point conversion, the score was 22-0.
Calhoun took the kickoff, but could not move the football and the 1st half ended with the score, Doddridge 22, Calhoun 0.
The Red Devils fumbled the 2nd half kickoff back to Doddridge at the CMS 39 yard line. Seven plays later the Bulldogs were up 30-0 after a successful two-point conversion.
The two teams traded possessions with each team giving up the ball on a fumble, and the 3rd quarter ended 30-0.
The Red Devils finally got on the scoreboard with 3:16 remaining in the 4th quarter when tailback Ben Laughlin hit an open seam in the middle of the line and raced 25 yard for the touchdown. Dylan Mefford skirted the left side for a two-point conversion and the score stood at Doddrdige 30, Calhoun 8.
Next week's game is at Spencer Middle School. Please come out and support this gallant band of Red Devils.
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