The Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs closed out the non-district schedule with a 34-7 road win versus the Alto Yellowjackets on Friday.
The Bulldog offense fired up early against the hosting Yellowjackets, which helped open up more aggressive run options for Corrigan’s skill players.
“We were limiting penalties and pushing on first down, and it allowed us to manipulate how we wanted our formations to go,” said Bulldog head coach Brett Ratliff. “Plus, we got a lot of production from different players tonight and that was big for us.”
Corrigan’s defense, under the direction of coordinator and assistant coach Amaro Villarreal, also had one of their best performances against a powerful Alto run game.
“We allowed them to get some yards on us because they are such an explosive offense, but making plays when it mattered and creating turnovers changed the momentum for us,” Ratliff said. “It kept us going and started to shut them down eventually.”
Bulldog seniors Nemo Marshall and Derrick Reagie earned big-chunk gains after a short kickoff to start.
Later, on first-and-goal, the Bulldog offense would get in the end zone on a quarterback sneak by sophomore Mikey Murphy for the early lead.
Alto fell short of moving the chains on their first possession.
Da’Tavin Love converted on a fourth-and-short to help keep the next Bulldog possession alive.
Shortly after, Reagie would break away for a 17-yard rushing touchdown to further extend the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Yellowjacket senior quarterback Camdyn Almond started things for Alto with a long-distance keeper and punched it in immediately after for the touchdown.
This put Alto on the board, down 14-7 going into the second quarter.
That did not stop Corrigan’s offense, as Murphy threw a deep ball in contested single coverage to Reagie for a long touchdown to make it a two-score game again.
It got worse for Alto, as the Yellowjackets botched the next kickoff return and Corrigan recovered.
Love capitalized with a big run to near the goal line, followed by Reagie getting the quick score and further extending the lead to 27-7, still early in the second.
Late in the half, Alto marched down the field and threatened to score, but Bulldog sophomore Emmanuel Foreman picked off a potential touchdown pass in the end zone for a touchback.
Foreman caught another long touchdown pass in tight coverage midway through the third quarter to make it 34-7.
Both teams exchanged turnovers in the late moments of the third and the game would be scoreless in the fourth, as the Bulldogs closed it out by running the clock.
The Bulldogs will host their first district match this coming Friday against the Centerville Tigers.
