RUSK - The Bullard eighth grade and junior varsity traveled for a doubleheader with the Rusk Eagles on Thursday night and came out on the short end of the scoreboard in both contests.

The junior varsity game was a one-sided affair as jumped to a 27-0, halftime lead, and the eventual 40-0, final tally. The eighth grade game was a better game as the teams battled back-and-forth, before Rusk prevailed 22-14.

Bullard got off to a great start as Kirk Bryant returned the opening kickoff 42 yards for good field position.

The Eagles stout defense was up to the test and forced the Panthers to turn the ball over on downs.

Three plays later, Victor Simmons caught a 40-yard strike for the ice-breaker at the 3:22 mark of the opening quarter.

Cited with good efforts in the game for Bullard were twoway standouts, Bryce Dover, Eric Benton, Austin Connant, and Colton Faulk.

In eighth grade action earlier in the day, Bullard quarterback, Holden Bryant hit Jesse Duplechin with a 65-yard touchdown pass for the early lead.

Rusk came right back to answer with a 64-yard scoring run, and after both teams missed extra point runs, the score was 6-6.

Bullard regained the lead as running back, Justin Mizzles scampered in from 42-yards away, and then bulled in for the PAT run and a 14-6, advantage for the Panthers.

That would be the last of the Bullard scoring as Rusk picked up another score before halftime for a 14-14, tie at intermission.

Rusk then added runs of 24-yards in the third period, and another 12-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.

Justin Bickerstaff, Leo Lacrosse, Trent Salmon, Cameron Hallford, and Wesley Callendar all registered key stops for the defense for Bullard in the lose.

The junior varsity and freshmen will next trek to Center to play Thursday, Oct.. 2. The freshmen are set for a 5 p.m. kickoff and the junior varsity set to follow at 6:30 p.m.