'Dogs shut out Patriots; prepare for face off with the 'Bucs

By Roger Gilmore
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Nov 2, 2009 - 1:01:36pm

The big showdown is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in the Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium when the undefeated DeLand Bulldogs (9-0) invade the area to take on the Mainland Bucs with the District 2-6A crown on the line.

At this writing the Bucs still had to play the Deltona Wolves to improve to 3-0 in the district and match the 'Dogs. The Bucs are heavily favored. The district champion gets to host the first round of the be on the road.

Batter Pats

Thursday night was a key contest in the 2009 schedule for the 'Dogs and they handled it in high fashion shutting down the Lake Brantley Patriots, 27-0, on their gridiron for their ninth straight victory and sixth shutout of the campaign.

The 'Dogs displayed their defense, Pop Saunders rambled for four touchdowns Shontrell Johnson ran all over the field, and the offensive line continued to do their job for their backs.

After three straight touchdown games Saunders jacked it up a notch by scoring four times against the Patriots for a career-high. He scored on a 95-yard beauty, glided for another of 15-yards, and just trotted into the end zone twice from five yards out. He had 166 yards on the night. Johnson didn't score, but rambled for 163 yards and the "rushing duo" once again each bettered the century mark.

The 'Dogs completed only one pass with Saunders hauling it in for 35 yards. The Pats intercepted two aerials with the first halting a DeLand scoring threat as it was picked off a yard deep in the end zone and returned to the DeLand 30.

The next Pats' series was big for the DeLand defense. The hosts had a first and goal at the eight, but were stopped at the one. On the second play Saunders suddenly broke into the secondary, and outlegged everyone for his first TD with 3:06 left in the first with Hunter Haire adding the PAT.

The 'Dogs had a couple other scoring opportunities, but a lost fumble and pass interception cut them off with an intermission score of 7-0.

Second half

DeLand took the second half kickoff and with Johnson doing most of the work drove downfield. Saunders turned on his gliding moves from 15 yards out for his second score with Haire making it 14-0.

Later Dramon Grady picked off a Lake Brantley pass and returned to the five. Two plays later Saunders tallied from the five and Haire converted for a 21-0 with 5:22 to play in the third.

On the first series of the final stanza the 'Dogs closed out the scoring with another five-yarder by Saunders. Freshman Jo Jo Kemp had a big 37-yard run on the march.

The DeLand "BIG D" pretty well bottled up the offense of their hosts

allowing 66 yards rushing and 44 passing. Eldrick Bright was the leader with some impressive solo tackles while Mark Joyce and his teammates did their usual solid job. Certainly the offensive line came in for their share of praise as well.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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