Bulldogs' last bite enough

The AlWood/ROWVA football team used strong fourth-quarter defense and a late touchdown to edge Peoria Heights 15-8 Friday night at Adams Field in Oneida.

Trailing 8-7, the Bulldogs (2-0), after stopping the Patriots on downs, took possession of the ball with around five minutes remaining in the game.

A 46-yard run by senior Luke Brandt took the ball down to the Patriots’ two-yard line. Brandt then got the call again and went in for the touchdown with 1:59 remaining. Sophomore quarterback Kenny Fogerty ran for the conversion points, keeping the Bulldogs perfect on the season.

“Our defense came through for us a couple times in the fourth quarter,” A-R coach Taul Noard said. “And we were able to put something together on offense. Our offense hadn’t clicked since the first quarter.”

Fogerty’s 2-yard TD run and Brandt’s PAT kick with 4:58 left in the opening frame put the Bulldogs up, 7-0.

Peoria Heights got on the scoreboard in the third quarter on Bryan Bart’s 3-yard TD run. He also tallied the conversion points to give the visitors an 8-7 edge.

“I thought it was pretty good for us when we scored our first touchdown and defense came out high for us,” Noard said. “But then we hit a lull where we couldn’t move the ball.

“Give them credit,” Noard said of the Patriots. “They had a good game plan put together. We stole a victory from them.”

Brandt finished with 126 yards rushing to lead the Bulldogs while senior Cameron Teel added 99 on the ground.

Peoria held the edge in total yardage, 313 to 275.

The Bulldogs host unbeaten Aledo/Westmer Friday in Oneida.

“We know what to expect from them,” Noard said. “We’ll have to play as mistake-free as possible.”