Bulldogs Tear Up the Bobcats... Wartburg Improves to 2-2
September 11, 2026 - It's hard to believe it has been 25 years since the tragedy of 9/11/01 took place. It was nice to see the Bulldogs charge onto the field holding the Red, White, & Blue high! We need to take time to do that more often. Go Dogs! Go USA! #Merica
Let me take you back in time... Facebook was launched... Gmail launched on April Fool's Day (making people think it was a joke)... the national average price of gas was $1.89 per gallon... People were walking around quoting new movie characters Napoleon Dynamite and Ron Burgundy... the hit TV show Friends just wrapped up their 10th season... AND Wartburg beat Oliver Springs in the regular season... You guessed it - that was 2004 - and it was the last time Wartburg had beaten Oliver Springs in the regular season on the gridiron (there was a playoff win in 2010)! One year ago, the Bobcats came to Wartburg and shut the Bulldogs out 44-0... so you better believe Head Coach Ted McKinney marched his Bulldogs to Oliver Springs with a chip on his shoulder.
The Bulldogs were looking to capitalize on the momentum of their first win of the season from a week ago. On the opening kickoff, resident speedster Marshall Stedam took the kickoff and slashed his way through the Bobcat coverage for approximately 50 yards leaving the offense a mere 30 yards to grab their first score of the night. The one-two punch of Jalyn Thomas and Ian Hammock was too much for the Bobcats - and the Bulldogs were celebrating their first score within 4 minutes of the opening kickoff.
Two weeks ago against Rockwood, the Dogs started the game off by running the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. The problem was they let Rockwood answer with a touchdown on the next possession. Would we see more of that type of trading blows with Oliver Springs? NO SIR! On the very first offensive play of the night for Oliver Springs - Bobcat QB Eli Richardson tried to fit the ball into a tight window down the middle of the field. Zaidan Williams made a very athletic move to cut the receiver off with a momentum-grabbing INTERCEPTION! The Bulldogs and Bobcats would trade scoreless drives until late in the 2nd when "Hammering" Ian Hammock bulldozed his way down the field with precision. With 2:32 left in the half, the Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead.
At halftime, you worry about losing focus. It's a long game - emotions are high - and a 14-point lead can disintegrate in a hurry. Added to that - the third quarter got VERY spicy on both sides of the ball. Personal foul flags flew all over the field as the players' tempers began to boil over with one another. The announcer mentioned the third quarter was sponsored by Jimmy Turner - and boy did he get his money's worth as it felt like it took forever! Even with all of the drama - QB1 Krishton Garrett found a way to drive his team down the field and find his first passing TD of the regular season with a soft touch pass over the middle to a wide open Nate "Stampede" Bulls. That put the Dogs on top 20-0 half way through the third. It was starting to smell like a shutout. On Oliver Springs' next drive - Isaac Sills got his mitts on Eli Richardson for a strip sack that Micah Francis would recover. Not long after, Hammock would march into the endzone for his second time of the night... Dogs 26-0 going into the 4th...
In the 4th - the personal foul flags continued to rain down - and both teams needed to reign in the unsportsmanlike conduct. That momentary lack of focus cracked the door open for Oliver Springs to get on the board. Wartburg-native Eli Richardson showed a lot of grit - despite the Bulldogs chasing him around the backfield for much of the game - he kept coming. He scrambled in for a Bobcat score in the 4th quarter. He would later take the team down the field to set up a second score... and then the game ended with the Bobcats threatening for a third TD. Bulldogs finish on top 26-13 - and they can finally reset the clock from 2004!
Below are a few musings meant to entertain & encourage:
Let me take you back in time... Facebook was launched... Gmail launched on April Fool's Day (making people think it was a joke)... the national average price of gas was $1.89 per gallon... People were walking around quoting new movie characters Napoleon Dynamite and Ron Burgundy... the hit TV show Friends just wrapped up their 10th season... AND Wartburg beat Oliver Springs in the regular season... You guessed it - that was 2004 - and it was the last time Wartburg had beaten Oliver Springs in the regular season on the gridiron (there was a playoff win in 2010)! One year ago, the Bobcats came to Wartburg and shut the Bulldogs out 44-0... so you better believe Head Coach Ted McKinney marched his Bulldogs to Oliver Springs with a chip on his shoulder.
The Bulldogs were looking to capitalize on the momentum of their first win of the season from a week ago. On the opening kickoff, resident speedster Marshall Stedam took the kickoff and slashed his way through the Bobcat coverage for approximately 50 yards leaving the offense a mere 30 yards to grab their first score of the night. The one-two punch of Jalyn Thomas and Ian Hammock was too much for the Bobcats - and the Bulldogs were celebrating their first score within 4 minutes of the opening kickoff.
Two weeks ago against Rockwood, the Dogs started the game off by running the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. The problem was they let Rockwood answer with a touchdown on the next possession. Would we see more of that type of trading blows with Oliver Springs? NO SIR! On the very first offensive play of the night for Oliver Springs - Bobcat QB Eli Richardson tried to fit the ball into a tight window down the middle of the field. Zaidan Williams made a very athletic move to cut the receiver off with a momentum-grabbing INTERCEPTION! The Bulldogs and Bobcats would trade scoreless drives until late in the 2nd when "Hammering" Ian Hammock bulldozed his way down the field with precision. With 2:32 left in the half, the Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead.
At halftime, you worry about losing focus. It's a long game - emotions are high - and a 14-point lead can disintegrate in a hurry. Added to that - the third quarter got VERY spicy on both sides of the ball. Personal foul flags flew all over the field as the players' tempers began to boil over with one another. The announcer mentioned the third quarter was sponsored by Jimmy Turner - and boy did he get his money's worth as it felt like it took forever! Even with all of the drama - QB1 Krishton Garrett found a way to drive his team down the field and find his first passing TD of the regular season with a soft touch pass over the middle to a wide open Nate "Stampede" Bulls. That put the Dogs on top 20-0 half way through the third. It was starting to smell like a shutout. On Oliver Springs' next drive - Isaac Sills got his mitts on Eli Richardson for a strip sack that Micah Francis would recover. Not long after, Hammock would march into the endzone for his second time of the night... Dogs 26-0 going into the 4th...
In the 4th - the personal foul flags continued to rain down - and both teams needed to reign in the unsportsmanlike conduct. That momentary lack of focus cracked the door open for Oliver Springs to get on the board. Wartburg-native Eli Richardson showed a lot of grit - despite the Bulldogs chasing him around the backfield for much of the game - he kept coming. He scrambled in for a Bobcat score in the 4th quarter. He would later take the team down the field to set up a second score... and then the game ended with the Bobcats threatening for a third TD. Bulldogs finish on top 26-13 - and they can finally reset the clock from 2004!
Below are a few musings meant to entertain & encourage:
Defensive Backs
The scouting report is out on Oliver Springs. Richardson looks for Seeber through the air and likes to run the ball. Karson Seeber is a big, athletic receiving threat for sure - but the Bulldogs made it plain. We are bringing pressure - and we are covering Seeber. It worked like a charm! A bright spot this season has been the play of the Defensive Backfield. James Wright has already notched a couple of INTs this year - and now Zaidan Williams has joined the party against Oliver Springs. With at least 2 ball hawks covering close - opposing QBs are going to have trouble moving the ball through the air.
Trick Play
Just when Krishton Garrett put a passing TD on the board - Running Back Ian Hammock almost matched him on a wild trick play. It was 4th down in the 4th quarter. The Bulldogs were past mid-field - but not quite close enough for a field goal attempt. Rather than punt it looking for marginally better field position - the Bulldogs decided to take a shot. Garrett took the snap - tossed it to Hammock who looked like he was going around the edge... except he slowed, set his feet, and chucked the ball deep to Jake Duncan. Duncan had a step on his defender - and it was a TD if the pass had been a yard closer. They are dialing in something special with this offensive crew. They are just scratching the surface on what is possible.
Sills... a Problem for Opposing Offenses
The last one I'd like to call attention to is Isaac Sills. You wouldn't think he's a freshman by watching his size and his play - but he overpowers the unfortunate Offensive Tackle on the other side of the ball. He wore his opponent down as the game went on - and his motor didn't stop. He got more and more pressure as the game wore on and the Tackle wore out - and the second half saw him getting pressure on almost every snap. One of those turned into a strip sack that turned into a TD - and it's those kinds of plays that can suck the life out of an opponent. The Bobcats were already on the ropes - and Sills sealed the deal!
Future Fantasy Stars
Fantasy football is a hobby for many. It essentially turns a real player's performance into a score. In the coming weeks - I'm going to try to offer up the fantasy star of the week for offense and defense. Here's how it will be scored:
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Offense
Passing Yards - 25 yards = 1 point Rushing/Receiving Yards - 10 yards = 1 point Return Yards - 25 yards = 1 point TDs - 6 points 2 Point Conversions - 2 points Receptions - 1 point Turnover - -2 points Field Goals - 3 points Extra Points - 1 point |
Defense
Tackle - 2 points Assists - 1 point Interception, Forced Fumble, Fumble Recovery - 5 points Sack - 5 points Defensive TD - 10 points Blocked punt or FG - 10 points Blocked Extra Point - 5 points Safety - 50 points |
Win a Candy Bar! Weekly Contest
Free to play - just for fun... It's simple - you pick an offensive player and a defensive player. Players will be selected based on their fantasy points. If any fan gets both correct - I'll announce you the winner - and bring you a sweet treat to the next game. Entries for the Cumberland Gap game will no longer count after the opening kickoff - Let's Go! Get those entries in!
Who Will Be the Fantasy Stars vs. Cumberland Gap???
Next Week: We travel for the third straight week to face off against the (3-1) Cumberland Gap Panthers. With a current win streak on the line - Coach McKinney and his Bulldogs will be angling hard toward making it three in a row. The Panthers won't give it to the Bulldogs - so we have to bring our A-game! Let's Go!
Go Dogs!
