Dora Bulldogs Take Down Northside Rams
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The Northside Rams hosted the Dora Bulldogs in a highly anticipated 4A Region 5 matchup between two teams that sat at the top of the standings. Dora took advantage of a few Northside errors in the second half to win with a final score of 33-13.
The game began with Dora receiving the open kickoff. Chavis Williams' Bulldogs came out hot early and opened up the game with a double-reverse-pass from Garrett Hogland to Dora quarterback Kesean Pryor who broke a tackle and bolted for the sideline and made it into the end zone on a 57-yard touchdown reception.
Dora attempted an onside following the score but failed to recover, after it did not travel the required distance. Northside opened their first drive with field position across the 50 yard line but were unable to capitalize and turned the ball over after a big fourth down stop.
Dora got the ball back and looked to score again. After Pryor completed a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Josh Williams down to the Northside-28 yard line, the Bulldogs pounded the ball down to the 5-yard line.
Pryor got his second touchdown of the game when he threw a swing pass out to running back Jamarcus Goodman who raced into the end zone on the 5-yard score.
Northside got the ball back and looked to put points on the board. The Rams tallied 15 plays on the drive but were once again stopped on fourth down by the stout Dora defense when Northside quarterback Braden Green was sacked trying to pass the ball on fourth down deep in Dora territory.
After both teams traded dives with no first downs, Dora received the ball back once again. Williams choose to put the ball in Pryor's hands and on third down and five yards to go Pryor dropped back to pass.
Pryor tucked the ball the after seeing no one open and took the ball right through the middle of the Northside defense 54-yards for his third touchdown of the game to extend the Dora lead.
Green responded to the challenge put in front of him by his opposing quarterback. He lead the Rams on a seven play 71-yard drive where he completed passes of 37 and 18 yards before punching the ball in himself on a 2-yard touchdown run with seconds to go before the half.
Northside received the ball to open the second half but was forced into a punting situation after picking up one first down from a penalty. However, Dora muffed the punt and Northside recovered the ball with a chance to close the deficit.
Dora's defense held firm and forced Northside to punt the ball once again. This time the punt rolled down to the Dora three yard line. Dora managed to give themselves some room but were forced to punt the ball back to Northside after failing to convert on third and 16.
Northside put the ball in their quarterback's hands once again and drove the ball down to the Dora 2-yard line. Green had Northside fans on their feet after carrying the ball around the right edge and extending the ball across the goal line to put the Rams within one score of the Bulldogs.
Dora responded immediately and on second down Pryor found Josh Williams out in the flat and Williams took the ball down the sideline, made a move on a Northside defender and ran into the end zone to complete the 81-yard touchdown.
Trouble for Northside began on the following drive when the Rams fumbled on their first play from scrimmage to give Dora the ball back near the 50-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
Pryor completed a pass to wide receiver Kolbe Walker to move the Bulldogs down to the Rams' 30-yard line. Two players later Pryor found his favorite target Williams coming across the field. Williams spun out of a tackle and ran towards the goal line and made a diving effort to cross the line to put the Bulldogs up 33-13.
Pryor finished the game with five total touchdowns, three through the air, one receiving and one on the ground along with 304 total yards.
When asked about Pryor, Williams said, "he carries a load for our team...I'm tempted to death about where he's headed and he's the leader of our team for sure."
Northside received the ball back and were forced to pass to make up the deficit put upon them by Dora's defense. Green completed a pass to his fellow senior Luke Jones for 17 yards to put them at midfield. However on the next set of downs, Green was strip sacked to give the ball back to Dora.
When asked about his quarterback's up and down performance throughout the night, Northside head coach Robbie Jones said, " it's not just him (that struggled), it was our entire team...we just got to get back to work and get better for next week."
Green finished the night with 129 total yards and the two rushing touchdowns.
Northside (6-2) will travel to face Hamilton in another 4A Region 5 matchup to help boost their chances to host in the first round of the playoffs.
Dora (5-3) will host Oak Groove next Friday with a chance to lock up the number one seed in the region.