Bulldogs drop season opener to Flint Creek, 58-0
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ST. IGNATIUS — New coach, new conference, new uniforms and helmets gave a very promising look to the start of the 2017 campaign for the Mission Bulldogs football squad.
Unfortunately, the season opener was a little rough on the Bulldogs and ended with a disappointing 58-0 loss at home to the Flint Creek Titans.
“The kids didn’t give up and kept their enthusiasm high,” former Montana Western star receiver and first year Bulldogs’ head coach Tyler Murray said. “The community was behind us showing a lot of support.”
The Bulldogs’ offense got the ball to start the game, but a 3rd and 6 incomplete pass stalled the drive at the Bulldogs 26.
Flint Creek’s offense clicked in its first drive with the running back scoring a touchdown on the Titans’ fourth play of the game. The Bulldogs caught a break, the touchdown was nullified due to an offensive chop block penalty. However, the Bulldog defense couldn’t capitalize on the penalty and the Titans scored again two plays later on a 22-yard pass.
On the Bulldogs’ ensuing drive, a snap over the head of quarterback Troy Mitchell resulted in a safety and gave Flint Creek the ball at the Titans 35. Four plays later, the running back for the Titans scored from 2 yards out to extend the lead to 14-0.
An interception brought the Bulldogs third drive of the game to a screeching halt and resulted in a Titans’ five-play touchdown drive, widening their lead to 20-0.
The Bulldogs ended the first quarter with a 10-play, 33-yard drive that featured two third-down conversions and chewed up 2 minutes and 20 seconds worth of clock, however the drive stalled at mid-field on a 4th and 7 incomplete pass.
“We had flashes of good offense and defense against a very high caliber 8-man team,” Murray said.
The rest of the game was a track meet starring the Flint Creek offense. The Titans found the end zone on five of its seven drives with one of their scores being a 45-yard quarterback keeper in the second quarter.
With time ticking away in the fourth quarter, the never-surrender Bulldogs finished the game with an 11-play, 38-yard drive that ended on a 4th and goal incomplete pass.
“We knew they were coming to play football, they just executed when we didn’t,” Bulldog running back Gus Bosley said.
Bosley finished with 37 yards rushing to go along with six solo tackles on defense with one tackle for a 7-yard loss on a fourth down play. Quarterback Troy Mitchell was 9 for 26 with 69 yards and one interception and Flint McPherson caught 5 passes for 37 yards.
On Friday, the Bulldogs will be on the road in Victor (1-0) who beat Arlee at home 38-28.
Flint Creek 56, Mission 0
Flint Creek 20 30 0 8 – 58
Mission 0 0 0 0 - 0
F - Jackson Lee 22 pass from Colton Grange (run failed)
F – Safety
F – Colby Manley 2 run (run failed)
F – Luke Holland 15 pass from Grange (pass failed)
F – Manley 9 run (Lee pass from Grange)
F – Grange 45 run (run failed)
F – Grange 15 run (Grange run)
F – Lee 24 pass from Grange (Manley run)
F – Riley Allen 6 pass from Grange (pass from Grange)
