Senior Bulldogs
In the first game of the weekend, the Bulldogs Senior Men's team travelled to Oakville on Saturday evening to take on the storied Longhorns in Northern Football Conference action. Despite being short in numbers due to work schedules and injuries, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing only 6 - 0 at the half. In the 3rd quarter, QB Kaelan Mathon connected with wide receiver Jesse Pledge on a 52-yard bomb to score the tying major, only to have it erased by a penalty.
On the strength of turnovers, the Longhorns were able to finally capitalize on a short field and score their 2nd TD to put the home team up 14-0 after a successful 2 pt convert. The Bulldogs defense held the horns deep in their end when the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard with Jesse Pledge scoring from 15 yds out to bring the Dogs to within a TD. In the end, the 7 turnovers by the Dogs became the difference in the 15-6 loss to the Longhorns. Kain Strom and Jesse Shoults both caught 5 passes for 58 & 55 yds respectively while Jesse Pledge caught 1 for 21. The Bulldogs defense allowed only 1 completed pass the entire game which was for a 2 point convert.
The Bulldogs NFC team will host the Sault Steelers in the final game of the 2019 season at Omischl on Saturday, July 20th at 7 p.m.
Bantam Bulldogs
On Sunday the Bulldogs Bantam team visited Clarington in the final game of the season looking even their record to 4 - 4 and earn a home playoff game with a win. The Bulldogs Bantam offense was timed up and scored early & often to put the Knights in a hole early. They rallied back in the second half finishing with 32 points. Aden Dionne led the Dogs scoring with 2 TDs and 7 kicked converts, while Seth Hamilton, Sam Kotsopolis, Adon James and Camden Vacon each scored a TD while Kaiden Stockill scored twice to round out the scoring in the 55-32 Bulldogs win. As a result, the Bantam Dogs will host the Orangeville Outlaws in the first round of playoffs this Saturday at 3 p.m.
Jr. Varsity Bulldogs
In the first game of Sunday's home doubleheader, the Dogs JV team took on the rival TNT Express. Last year the Dogs outlasted the TNT Express in an offensive shootout eventually winning it 35 - 32. This year the retooled defense was ironclad with the Dogs pass coverage crew allowing only 1 first down to be gained by passing and contained the TNT running game for all 4 quarters. Offensively, Sean Kelly was on the receiving end of a fade pass from Owen Webb to the back of the endzone to open the scoring. Webb connected with Kelly once again in the first half to go up 14-0.
Fullback Alastair Bridges racked up over 100 punishing yards against the TNT defense including the final major of the game. Alex Jessup and Riley Huter each contributed a scoring TD while Fisher Bilz scored from 43 yards out to round out the Dogs 41 points. TNT's Kyle Petch scored a TD for the TNT Express in the last minute of the 41-6 win for the JV Dogs. The JV Dogs will visit the York Lions on Sunday, July 21st at 2:30 p.m. in the divisional semi-finals.
Sr. Varsity Bulldogs
The Senior Varsity Bulldogs had a lopsided victory over the weekend.
The Bulldogs Senior Varsity team sits atop the OPFL Varsity Division with a 6-1 record after dismantling the Orangeville Outlaws 52-0. The Dogs executed well in all phases of the game disallowing the Outlaws from gaining any momentum whatsoever. The opening drive for the Outlaws ended with a Jason Turnsek interception and 51-yard scoring return to give the Dogs the early lead. Later in the quarter Jacob Steringa took a short pass and found his way to the endzone behind Bulldogs downfield blocking. Next Dogs drive saw QB Mason McGriskin connect with Zach Martel on a 48-yard bomb to put the dogs up 21-0. AJ Williamson kept the Outlaws deep in their own end with consistent 61 to 66 yard kickoffs.
Still in the 2nd quarter, the Bulldogs defense left the Outlaws offense with a 4th and 16 from their own four-yard line. On the punt attempt, Bulldogs LB Phil Fortin blocked the Outlaw punt which was recovered by teammate Mathieu Desjardins in the end zone to extend the Bulldogs lead to 28-0.
Later in the 2nd quarter McGriskin connected with James Piper on a 36 yd catch and run-scoring play. On the last play of the half, AJ Williamson kicked a 27-yard field goal giving the Dogs a very comfortable 35-0 lead.
In the 3rd quarter, Ryan McColeman punched a score in and later in the 4th quarter Jacob Steringa ran the ball in for the final score from 23 yards out to complete the 52-0 win to lock up first place in the Varsity division of the OPFL.
The Varsity team will host the Toronto Jets on July 27th in the first round of the OPFL Varsity playoffs looking to secure a spot in the Championship in their effort to defend their 2018 Championship win.
