Bulldogs Hold On Late For Important Win Over Malakoff

MALAKOFF — Turnovers and penalties hurt Malakoff Friday as the Tigers dropped a tough District 14-2A battle to Edgewood, 33-28.

Jackson Blacketer rushed for 99 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Tigers in their effort.

The win moves Edgewood to 6-3 on the year and 3-2 in District 14-2A action. Malakoff falls to 6-2, 3-1.

After going scoreless in the first half and falling behind 33-13 early in the fourth, the Tigers stormed back, but could not quite catch the Bulldogs.

A little more than a minute into the fourth quarter, Edgewood’s Ethan Rutter hit Levi Weaver with a 7-yard touchdown pass. Mario Bustillos added the kick and the Bulldogs had a 20-point lead at 33-13.

The lead lasted just eight seconds, however.

The ensuing kickoff was short and Malakoff’s Ryan Manginell was able to take it in at his own 45 and scamper 55 yards to the end zone. With Cesar Garcia’s extra point, the lead was cut to 33-20.

The intensity level clicked up another notch when the Bulldogs mishandled the following kickoff and Malakoff’s Corey Brookins pounced on the ball. The Tigers were in business again at the Edgewood 35. Two runs later, and the Tigers were on the Edgewood 9 and knocking on the door.

But the Bulldogs’ Kiin Tuma recovered a Tiger fumble — his second recovery of the night — to stop the drive.

The Bulldog defense did not get long to rest. Four plays later, Rutter was picked off by the Tigers’ Vanoid Dawson.

Malakoff was able to convert the ensuing drive — which was helped along by a 36-yard juggling grab of a tipped pass by Dawson — into points when Jackson Blacketer turned a fourth-and-short into an 8-yard touchdown.

Quarterback Bernard Hall ran in the PAT to cut the lead to 33-28 with just over four minutes left in the game.

Weaver and Rutter made sure the Tigers did not see the ball again until there were just 26 seconds left on the clock. A desperation throw by Hall became Darrius Rogers’ third interception to seal the game.

Malakoff was led by the tough running of Blacketer, who had 99 yards on 14 carries.

Weaver led the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with 88 yards on 21 carries, and added 54 yards receiving and two touchdowns on five receptions. Rogers ended up with 79 yards receiving and a touchdown to go with his picks.

Rutter was 15-of-22 on the night for 243 yards and five touchdowns.

The Bulldogs exploded out of the gate in the first quarter, with Rutter hitting Rogers and Weaver with scoring strikes to take a 12-0 lead into halftime.

Malakoff announced the second half would be different by taking the third quarter kickoff and marching down the field in three plays, scoring on an 11-yard Marquise Dowell run.

Rutter answered on the next drive, directing the Bulldogs downfield until finding the end zone on a 28-yard pass to Colten Hinton.

The Tigers matched the Bulldogs, marching to a 3-yard Blacketer touchdown run to trim the lead to six again at 19-13.

But Malakoff could not stop the Bulldogs and Rutter directed another scoring drive, connecting with Wyatt McBride on a 14-yard score.

After Tuma recovered his first fumble on the next Tiger series, Rutter hooked up with Weaver to make the lead 33-13 and set up the furious fourth quarter.

Edgewood will host Scurry-Rosser this Friday in the Bulldogs’ final game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.