The Freedom Bulldogs edge out the Laurel Spartans in a close 14-7 game @FHSPress

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

Dylan Scheel | October 2, 2020

On Friday Oct 2 the Freedom Bulldogs took on the Laurel Spartans . The Bulldogs were looking to bounce back from a 54-14 loss the previous week against the Neshannock Lancers.

The Freedom Bulldogs and Laurel Spartans line up for the snap.

The game started out with the Spartans receiving the kick. The Bulldogs played great defense on the drive and forced a punt. Freedom junior Josh Paul went for the punt return but fumbled the catch. This resulted in the Spartans getting the ball back. After this, the first quarter was filled with great defense and many penalty flags for both teams.

The second quarter started with much of the same, penalties for both teams. Both teams also struggled to score until late in the quarter when the Spartans broke the deadlock with a 31 yard touchdown pass with one minute and 40 seconds left to make the score 7-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the bulldogs took the kick 70 yards down to the 19 yard line and started their drive. They quickly took advantage of their great field position and scored a first play touchdown pass to senior Reiker Welling to equal the score at 7.

The third quarter started as the bulldogs kicked the ball off. The Bulldogs defense forced a 3 and out on the first drive to get the ball back. But the Spartans defense did just the same. The Spartans then drove down to the 16 yard line, but threw an interception into the end zone. The Bulldogs ended the 3rd quarter with a 30 yard catch by Reiker Welling to get to the 50 yard line. However, they ended the drive a few plays later with a fumble on the 25 yard line.

Laurel was unable to get  anything going  on the next drive and the Bulldogs got the ball back on their own 28 yard line . On the first play of their drive, they took a shot to senior Reiker Welling and it payed off. Welling caught the ball and ran 72 yard into the end zone, to break the tie and take a 14-7 lead.

After gaining the momentum the Bulldogs kicked off to the Spartans and the Spartans began their drive. The Spartans could not answer back and punted on the 7 yard line.

Freedom looked to close out the game, but the Spartans great defense forced the Bulldogs to punt the ball.

After getting the ball back with two minutes and 55 seconds left in the game, the Spartans needed to find a way into the end zone. They traveled all the way to the Freedom 30 yard line after many big plays. But on 4th down with 42 seconds left in the game,  Freedom  sophomore Damian Grunnagle made a huge stop and forced an incomplete pass.

The Bulldogs ended the game in victory formation and won the game 14-7. The Bulldogs will look to stay hot as they take on Ellwood City next week on the 10th of October.

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