The Bulldogs started with the ball only going three and out and being forced to punt. On the first play of Avila's drive, #38 Kaleb Hamblin sacked Eli Williams and forced a fumble picked up by #32 Avery Crawford and taken 21 yards to the house. #67 Jimmy Mai's kick was blocked, causing the score to remain 6-0. It took 13 plays for Avila to go 65 yards. The McPherson defense held them to a field goal at just their 10-yard line. The score was 6-3. McPherson is still out front. After another quick three and out by the Bulldog offense, Avila pounded the ball on the ground in a drive spanning eight plays and going for 47 yards and finished the drive with a touchdown. Avila took the lead 10 -6.
The second quarter's start was much the same as the first drive. McPherson had stalled out in 6 plays and had to punt. The punt was a good one that went 45 yards to Avila's 10-yard line. Melvin Reid muffed the punt, and #42 Quinton Powell quickly jumped on the ball to recover it at the Avila 6-yard line. Sadly the Avila defense held the McPherson offense out of the endzone #67 Jimmy Mai drilled the field goal to draw the score closer, 10-9 Avila. It took four plays for Avila to answer as Malik Nesbitt broke a run off for 49 yards for a touchdown and expanded their lead 16-9. #2 Aaron Cyrus blocked the extra point attempt, his second in 2 weeks, holding them to 16. Both teams would fail to do anything on offense for the remainder of the half. Both defenses seemed to start to shut both offenses down.
McPherson looked good to start the half as the defense forced a three-and-out. McPherson got the ball at their own 20-yard line after the punt went for a touchback. #4 Jonathan White only took one play to break a run-off for an 80-yard touchdown. This knotted the game up at 16. It only took three plays for Avila to answer as they took the lead 23-16. After another three and out by the McPherson offense, Avila would drive 47 yards down the field in eight plays for a touchdown. This extended their lead 30-16, staying the score until the fourth quarter.
Mcpherson's defense started the fourth quarter off hot as #11 0Taeylon Garland intercepted a pass and returned it 11 yards to the Avila 24. This momentum-shifting play put the Bulldogs in a prime opportunity. McPherson's first drive of the quarter would end in one play as they would fumble the football and give Avila the ball right back. They would then capitalize on the opportunity to extend their lead 36-16 after the offense showed signs of life in their next drive. Avilas Javon Taylor intercepted a pass and took it for a touchdown, scoring 43-16. The offense would then find some rhythm, but sadly it was too late as #15 Cameron Mayshaw Jr. caught a 22-yard touchdown pass by #20 Tristan Szabo, making the score 43-23 with 1:44 left on the clock. Avila would then run the clock out, and the game would end with a final score of 43-23 Avila.
The Key offensive contributors were #4 Jonathan White and #15 Cameron Mayshaw Jr. Jonathan White rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown. He also averaged 7.4 yards a carry. Cameron Msyshaw Jr. caught only two passes but had the only receiving touchdown and averaged 14 yards a catch.Â
The Key defensive contributors were #11 Taeylon Garland and #38 Kaleb Hamblin. Taylor Garland had 1 forced fumble and an interception late in the game. Kaleb Hamblin had three total tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble.
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