Bulldogs flip script in 54-6 rout of Vina
The Belgreen Bulldogs closed out their football season on a decisive note Friday night, delivering a crushing 54-6 victory over the Vina Red Devils. In a complete reversal of last year’s result, the Bulldogs asserted their dominance from start to finish, concluding their impressive campaign with a strong 6-2 record.
The season-ending blowout carries extra significance as the Bulldogs prepare for a major program shift. The team is slated to move to full varsity play when new AHSAA classifications are announced this December.
Playing on the first truly cold and wet night of the year, the game began as a defensive struggle marred by turnovers. Both sides struggled to hold onto the slick football, resulting in a scoreless first quarter.
Vina’s defense made an early statement by recovering a Belgreen fumble on a punt, but the Bulldogs’ defense responded when Miguel Willingham intercepted a Vina pass at the Red Devils’ 17-yard line.
The deadlock finally broke in the second quarter. With 10:07 remaining in the half, quarterback Rush Berryman powered into the end zone on a one-yard run. Berryman followed up with a successful two-point conversion run to give Belgreen an 8-0 lead.
The Bulldogs found the end zone again late in the half when Dylan Barber finished a drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown. Barber then added the two-point run himself, extending the lead to 16-0.
Belgreen had one last chance to score before the break, but a promising run by Ethan Dawson ended in heartbreak when the ball slipped from his grasp in midstride, allowing the Red Devils to recover the fumble.
Belgreen opened the second half quickly, further extending its lead to 24-0 on a four-yard touchdown run by Logan Alexander.
Vina managed to find the scoreboard courtesy of its defense. Zack Sparks intercepted a Belgreen pass and returned it for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 24-6.
However, the Bulldogs’ response was immediate and overwhelming.
Dylan Barber took over, exploding for a spectacular 48-yard touchdown run to instantly negate Vina’s score and make it 30-6. Barber wasn’t finished, later forcing a safety late in the third quarter to cap off his stellar night and widen the gap to 32-6.
The Bulldogs maintained their powerful momentum through the final quarter, pulling away decisively to secure the final 54-6 victory and wrap up their successful 6-2 season.
