Bulldogs roll over Tigers

Thorndale quarterback Coy Stutts ran for four scores and threw a 67-yard scoring strike to Clason Beasley to lead the Bulldogs (7-2 overall, 4-1 District 13-2A) to a 46-14 win over the Thrall Tigers (2-6, 1-3) Friday night in Thrall.

“I thought there were moments tonight that we played well,” said Thrall coach Aaron Vanecek. “We won special teams, but we’ve got to work on the little things that are keeping us from being successful.”

Thorndale entered Friday night’s Battle of Highway 79 with momentum on its side after a hard-fought win over Holland a week ago. That momentum carried over into Friday night’s tilt.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring on their first drive of the night. Stuts, who finished the night with 223 yards on 23 carries, recorded runs of 38 and 13 yards on a 68-yard, six-play drive. He picked up the final two on a quarterback sneak and the point after gave Thorndale a 7-0 lead with 9:42 to play in the opening quarter.

Thrall’s defense was able to stop the Bulldogs on their next possession, but early in the second quarter Thorndale struck again. The Bulldogs marched 57 yards in eight plays, with Stuts getting most of the work, including a one-yard sneak with 9:56 remaining in the first half. His second score put the visitors up 14-0.

It appeared that the Tigers would get out of the first half down just two scores, but the Bulldogs had other ideas. Getting the ball at their own 2 with two minutes left before halftime, Thorndale put together a 72-yard drive. Stutz hard a 20-yard run on a critical fourth down play at the Thorndale’s 47 and from there Noah Crabtree went 33 yards for the score and a 21-0

See TIGERS • page 14