Bulldogs End Season With Exciting Win

Bainville’s football team ended its season in a memorable way when a touchdown and conversion with 12 seconds left lifted the Bulldogs over Jordan, 34-33, on Thursday, Oct. 20.

“It was a great way to end the year. It helps,” Bainville Coach Shawn Romo said after the home victory.

The Bulldogs entered the game without a conference win and with three starters out with injuries.

“This will give us confidence going into next year,” Romo said after the win.

Down by a 33-27 margin, the Bulldogs started their final drive on their own 27 with about four minutes to play. Two scrambles by Cayden Boyd produced a first down at the Jordan 38.

Facing a fourth-and-13 situation, Bainville’s possession stayed alive on a pass interference call down to the 15. The Bulldogs then struggled as a holding call and a short pass created a third-and-18 from the 18. A pass from Boyd to Trevor Robertus, along with a face-masking penalty, put the ball at the six.

From there, Boyd connected with Samuel Butikofer on a fourth-down pass with 12 seconds remaining. On the conversion attempt, Boyd hit Robertus and the sophomore battled his way into the end zone before losing control of the ball for a 34-33 lead.

The Mustangs were unable to get further than the Bainville 30 in the final seconds.

Jordan scored the game’s first touchdown on a 12-yard run by Payton Pluhar with 8:05 left in the opening quarter.

After Bainville’s drive was stopped with an interception, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard when Butikofer tackled quarterback Jason Murnion in the end zone for a safety. Taking over at the Jordan 30 after the ensuing kick, Bainville reached the end zone when Alex Strickland made a diving catch of a 12-yard throw from Boyd with 2:18 left in the period.

The Mustangs came right back with a 72-yard touchdown run by Pluhar. Murnion passed to Jayden Saylor for the conversion and a 13-8 advantage.

The score remained 13-8 until Jordan increased its lead on an 18-yard run by Pluhar. A conversion pass from Murnion to Saylor put the margin at 20-8.

Bainville started and ended the third quarter on high notes. Strickland returned the opening kickoff 47 yards for a touchdown to cut the gap to 20-14.

A 43-yard pass from Rowan Wilson to Strickland on the final play of the quarter tied the game at 20-20.

Jordan was able to regain the lead on a 46-yard pass from Murnion to Saylor with 9:47 remaining in the contest. Murnion passed to Garret Bliss for the conversion for a 27-20 advantage.

The Bulldogs put together a 54-yard scoring drive highlighted with runs by Boyd to tie the game. Strickland made a leaping catch of a pass from Wilson for a 16-yard touchdown with 6:49 left. Boyd passed to Butikofer for the conversion for a 27-27 deadlock.

Jordan went back ahead on an 18-yard deflected pass from Murnion to Bliss with 4:15 remaining. After the kick attempt failed, Jordan led by a 33-27 margin.

BoydCayden Boyd breaks loose for the Bulldogs.(Photo by Bill Vander Weele)