Even new coach Joe Allen understood the significance of Oct. 16’s 31-21 victory over archrival Wootton. After the game he ran towards the student section and gave the crowd a Josh McDaniels style fist pump and held up seven fingers to represent the 7-0 start.
The Bulldogs struggled to stop the run early, but they had no problem with Wootton after they reverted back to their usual passing attack. In what was a wild, rainy game, senior tight end Matt Risk rushed for two touchdowns and senior captain running back Ryan Quinn threw a touchdown pass to senior Brandon Swepson on an option-pass play.
“The excitement was palpable,” Quinn said. “7-0 is definitely an accomplishment and it was even better to do it against Wootton.”
The football team has made a habit of winning close games all year, but the Oct. 9 win over Magruder took it to another level.
It took two overtimes for the Bulldogs to finally take home a 33-27 victory over Magruder to keep the undefeated season alive.
“It builds character knowing you can win every game and even come from behind,” Allen said.
Things seemed as if they were off to a good start when senior Brandon Swepson took the the opening kickoff past midfield, but a fumbled snap and one 55-yard pass by Magruder gave the Colonels an early 7-0 lead.
CHS would not hang their heads down. The Bulldogs put together a long scoring drive that was capped with a four-yard touchdown run by Quinn.
In the second quarter, CHS found itself trading scores. A Magruder touchdown was answered by a 28-yard touchdown catch by senior Matt Cole that seemed as if it would tie the game up going into the half. A questionable decision to go for two backfired and had CHS trailing 14-13 going into the half.
The team kicked off the second half scoring with a five-yard touchdown run by senior captain Alex Kantor to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 20-14.
With time winding down in regulation, a short touchdown pass by Magruder seemed as if it would be the game winning score, but Magruder pushed the extra point just wide, sending the game into overtime.
In the first overtime period, Magruder punched in a touchdown giving them a 27-20 lead. The Bulldogs responded as junior Marcus Brown scampered into the endzone for a six-yard score to force another overtime.
The Bulldog defense has made tons of huge stops all season and it was no different on this night. After stuffing Magruder on fourth down, CHS would just need a field goal to win the game. However, on the field goal attempt, Kantor fumbled the snap and was forced to improvise. He picked up the ball and sprinted into the endzone for the game winning score.
“[Kantor] has been playing football since he was seven years old so when the time comes, he’s been able to step up,” Allen said.
The team knew it was going to have its hands full dealing with highly touted Northwest running back Hassan Dixon and despite letting up nearly 200 yards on the ground, the defense held up fairly well in its 30-22 homecoming victory Oct. 2.
In a victory that propelled himself and the team into the spotlight, Kantor threw two touchdowns and ran for two more. The work of the offensive line in the trenches has helped Kantor put up his big numbers.
“My O-line gives me the time I need to read the defense and deliver my throws on time,” Kantor said. “The success we are having this season is primarily due to the fact that everyone is working hard and making each other better. Also, without the offensive and defensive lines, none of our success so far this season would be possible.”
Remaining on the Bulldogs’ schedule are an Oct. 30 away match-up against Allen’s former team B-CC and a home game against Whitman Nov. 7 which will be crucial for playoff seeding.