HOMECOMING WIN
Bullard varsity chops down White Oak, 25-7
By Don Wallace

A Bullard player tries to elude two White Oak tacklers during Friday night homecoming play. The Panthers won 25-7 in the final non-district game.

It was a homecoming night to remember for Bullard.

The Panthers flexed their muscles and recorded a 25-7 win over White Oak in non-district play Friday, Sept. 29.

Panther stadium was a hot bed of activities, beginning with pre-game homecoming ceremonies and concluding with the hometown fans watching Bullard rough up the Roughnecks.

Cameron Clark directed the offense with the precise of a surgeon. Clark threw three touchdown passes and adding 65 additional yards on gutsy runs. For the game, Clark completed 8 of 15 passes for 135 yards.

The Bullard defense was in control the entire game. White Oak's lone score came late in the contest after the game was decided.

Bullard had 326 total yards compared to 122 yards for White Oak.

"Our defense was awesome," Bullard head coach Rex Sharp said. "We dominated a pretty good White Oak team. We were just up 6-0 at the half and we challenged the kids. They responded to the challenge, they deserve the credit. I am very proud of these players."

Cameron Clark runs for a first down for the Panthers.

The win as more than revenge for a 35-0 loss to White Oak in 2005. The win gives Bullard a 3- 2 mark heading into an open date prior to the district opener at Athens, Oct. 13.

In game against White Oak, neither team could get rolling in the open quarter. The second quarter began, just as the game had started, with the teams trading punts in a scoreless battle. Bullard put together their first scoring drive

halfway through the second period. The 67-yard, 12-play drive was capped when Clark tossed an 11-yard scoring pass to Daniel Abernathy. The spirited drive was highlighted by strong blocking and key runs by Clark, Geoff Dick and Jeremy Jones. Bullard's extra point attempt was blocked, but they held a 6-0 lead.

White Oak tried to answer with a score of their own, but the Panther defense would not cooperate. Roughneck quarterback Austin Tubbs was sacked to end a threat. The opening half ended with Bullard holding on to a 6-0 lead.

The third quarter opened with White Oak getting a big play. Running back Josh Goll following teammates down the field on a sweep for a 56- yard gain down to the Bullard 19-yard line. The Panthers held on downs and with 9:21 left in the third period, Bullard took over at their own 25- yard line.

White Oak got a break a moment later when Bullard fumbled the ball back to the Roughnecks at the 32-yard line of the Panthers. But White Oak saw a bad snap from center lead to a 25-yard loss, soon the Roughnecks were back in punting formation. The miscue killing the drive for the visitors.

Bullard's offense was fired up as they strung together key runs and passes to move 71-yards in seven plays in less than two minutes to go ahead 12-0. The scoring play was a 28-yard pass from Clark to Justin Hollie at the 4:04 mark of the third period. The extra point run failed.

White Oak was starting to become weary from the tenacious hits by the Panther defense. The Roughnecks fumbled and Bullard again was in good field position.

White Oak was starting to become weary from the tenacious hits by the Panther defense. The Roughnecks fumbled and Bullard again was in good field position.

On a key third and 10 play, Clark connected with a scoring aerial to Landon Willborn from 36 yards. Clark's run for a two point conversion fell inches short and Bullard had to be content up 18-0.

In the fourth period, both teams managed to score a touchdown each.

After Bullard again held White Oak on downs, the offense for the Panthers put together the final scoring drive of the contest. The 62-yard possession took six plays to reach the end zone. After runs by Dick and Clark had the White Oak defense thinking about stopping them, Bullard went to another back. Jeremy Morgan, who carried the ball just three times in the game, found an open hole on a trap run and raced behind blockers for a 33-yard score. The kick by Michael Monteagudo was good to give Bullard a 25-0 lead with 6:24 remaining.

White Oak pulled off a fake punt for a big gain later in the fourth quarter. The play set up their lone touchdown, a two-yard run by Cullien Heim.

Bullard closed out non-district play with the convincing 25- 7 tally over White Oak.

Charlie Moore paced the Panther defense with 15 tackles from his safety position. Linebacker Colin Shivers had a well-rounded night with 11 tackles, one for loss, one interception and fumble recovery.

Sharp credited line play by Tim Lackey, Logan Wiggins, Willie Gordon, Tim Phillips and Aaron Miller as reason for the Panthers' success.

"We only had one turnover this week and it makes a big difference compared to the six we have against Troup," Sharp remarked. "We're getting better we are 3-2 heading into district. We have two losses to quality opponents, we could be 5-0 if things had gone our way. But we will take 3-2."

Sharp said, "We still have improvements to make, especially in our kicking game. We need to have all three phases of the game working when we take the field against Athens. We play on the road against a tough Athens team they have some athletes and some big players."

Athens is 2-3 for the year. The Hornets lost 35-26 to Kaufman, allowing 471 yards rushing.

Junior varsity notes

The Bullard junior varsity rolled to a 29-8 win over White Oak in Thursday play.

Lance Anding scored on a 60-yard punt return and added a 60-yard run from scrimmage to highlight the offense. Daniel Howard had a 70-yard touchdown run. Brandon Beavers scored on a 25-yard run. Josiah Rosebury and Anding also had two point conversions. Nicki Rumbelow booted an extra point.