Edgewood Uses Defense And Run Game To Beat Blooming Grove For Fourth Straight Win

With defense and a ground game, the Edgewood Bulldogs bullied the Blooming Grove Lions 49-21, Friday night. With less than 100 yards passing and big plays on defense the Bulldogs move to 4-1 on the season, and open district play with a win.

The Edgewood defense created five turnovers on the night, while Kiin Tuma had 5 sacks and 14 total tackles. Tre Wright added another 9 tackles, Rogers returned an interception for a 38-yard touchdown, and the defense held the Lions to 214 yards of total offense.

The game started ugly for the Bulldogs, as a quick slant pass was caught but fumbled on the third play from scrimmage. The Lions took over at the Bulldogs 47, and four plays later, the Blooming Grove quarterback scrambled for a 10-yard TD. The PAT was good, and Edgewood trailed for the first time since the week-one loss to Harmony.

The Bulldogs would come right back though, as Colten Hinton would return a short kick 33 yards to the Blooming Grove 39. Edgewood would run 11 plays and score on a 9-yard pass from Rutter to Hinton. Bustillos would add the PAT, and at the 5:33 mark, the score was tied, 7-7.

Blooming Grove drove to the Bulldog 13 on the next possession, but on a fourth-and-8 field goal try, a facemask penalty would give the Lions first- and-goal at the 7. The Blooming Grove quarterback scored on a two-yard run, and with the two-point conversion, the Lions led 14-7.

For the final 11:00 of the first half, the Bulldog defense would stiffen and hold Blooming Grove to a minus three yards on four plays

A kick return by Darrius Rogers, combined with a personal foul penalty on Blooming Grove, gave the Bulldogs a first down at the Lion 39. Eight plays and 41 yards later, Rogers finished the drive with a 6-yard run. Bustillos, perfect on point after kicks for the night, tied the score at 14.

Rogers broke the tie with his 38-yards interception return, and the Bulldogs would not trail again.

The Bulldogs would force a three-and-out and take the punt at BG’s 45. Kerr picked up 23 yards on a fantastic run, Rutter would hit McBride for 13 yards on the pass and Read finished the drive from 4 yards out.

With the PAT, the lead was 28-14 and that is where the half would end.

The second half began with what appeared to be the game plan of Blooming Grove’s running back. He would pick up 32 yards before Haltom would strip Sterling and recover the fumble.

Edgewood was unable to move the ball on the first series of the half and Haltom’s punt was fielded by BG’s Tennell and returned to the exact yard line it was punted from.

However, Tennell would fumble and Edgewood would start their second series. This time BG would pay as Edgewood went on an 11-play, 67-yard scoring drive that Rogers capped with his second rushing TD on the night from 7 yards out.

The PAT was good and the lead was now 35-14 with 3:51 to go in the third. BG would run three plays for minus-28 yards and punt to the Bulldog 32. The next play of the game would go to Haltom and he outran everyone on the field for a 68-yard TD.

With the PAT the score stood at 42-14 with 2:16 to go in the third. The third would end with BG driving again.

This time BG would go on the move, covering 63 yards in eight plays. The PAT was good and the score was 42-21 with 10:32 to go.

The Bulldogs would then get the ball at their own 22 and move the ball methodically for eight more plays and 78 yards. There was not one pass attempted on the drive and Edgewood held the ball for almost four minutes, getting the game down to 6:47 with Haltom scoring from 6 yards out.

The PAT was good and the scoring was over at 49-21.

Edgewood has had some very good teams in the past but perhaps none have been more balanced than this one.

The "D" line is strong. The corners can cover and the LB’s will hit you. The offense can run the ball, taking pressure from Rutter and that makes for balance. Dominant is not the word Coach Simmons wants to hear because the stats do not show it.

However, ball control is the word and again the Bulldogs were able to control the ball and thus the clock and thus the game. A chip is on the shoulder here as the Bulldogs are not in anyone’s top 40 in all of Class 2A.

The matchup of the week in East Texas has to be Kerens coming to town ranked #16 this week and, after beating Scurry-Rosser handily, maybe even higher.