Bulldogs score 56, improve to 3-0
Tazewell (56) vs. Sullivan Central (23)
Written: Sep 13, 2014
By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
TAZEWELL, Va. — Somebody let the Dogs out.
For the first time in 20 years, Tazewell broke the 50-point barrier, exploding for a 56-23 triumph over Sullivan Central (1-2) Friday.
Jesse Mountain caught five passes — three for touchdowns and 133 yards, Nick Blankenship ran 19 times for 192 yards and three scores, and Corey Brewster returned an interception 100 yards for another touchdown as the high-flying Bulldogs (3-0) got off to their best start since 2008.
“We got challenged early,” said Tazewell quarterback Malik Davis, who rushed 9 times for 90 yards with a 7-yard touchdown scamper and also completed 6-of-9 passes for 133 more including 3 touchdown tosses.
He said, “We trailed in the first quarter but we came in at halftime and said ‘We are not going to lose’ so we made some good things happen late in the game. I have to give all the credit to our offensive line. They were great again tonight.”
Trailing 10-6 with 2:42 remaining in the first stanza, Tazewell rattled off 37 unanswered points by the midway point of the third quarter.
Blankenship, scoring on runs of 32, 42 and 1 yards, was happy but not completely satisfied. He also added a two-point conversion run.
“We have to get better,” he said. “Our defense — especially our pass defense, must improve. As we get deeper into the season and the competition gets tougher, we have to pick up our game. Tonight was great, but we have work to do,” noted the junior standout.
Mountain again put on a display. He had an 11-yard touchdown reception, blasted past the Cougar defense for a 54-yard second-quarter score, and had another highlight play with a 48-yard, turn-in-the-air and elude the defender down the sideline for another touchdown in the third period. The senior speedster also caught a two-point conversion pass from Davis.
“We probably could have scored more if we had needed to, but there was no need to pass late in the game,” said Mountain. “Still, we have to hang on to the ball. We had a couple of fumbles. Our whole team has to get better and we know that. The season is not even one-third over and we have to cut down on our overall mistakes to keep the success going.”
A good Sullivan Central game plan threatened to rain on Tazewell’s parade.
With hard running Ethan Krtausch keying the ground game and quarterback Tyler Pope deftly running the attack, the Cougars powered to an early lead. Keith Axton kicked a 19-yard field goal for an early 3-0 advantage and after Blankenship’s first touchdown (32 yards) Krtausch blasted over for an 8-yard score and the extra point made it 10-6 with SC going 58 yards in just three plays to stun the Bulldogs. Tazewell responded in fine fashion.
Mountain caught an 11-yard pass from Davis and scored. Blankenship ran for two. Mountain went 54 yards on first play of the next series on another Davis pass and then caught the two-point toss to put Tazewell in front 22-10 with 2:47 left in the half.
Blankenship rumbled 42-yards for another touchdown and Davis bolted over for two to open the second half as Tazewell widened its lead to 30-10 in the first 9 seconds of the third quarter.
Daniel Smith’s fumble recovery on the Cougar 48 set up Mountain’s third touchdown grab as he went the distance to up the ante to 36-10 Bulldogs.
Austin Reed then recovered a Cougar onside kick attempt at the SC 43. Davis capped that march with a 7-yard touchdown run and Corey Honaker’s PAT kick made it 43-10.
The Cougars battled hard all game and Krtausch put the exclamation point on a 9-play, 91-yard march on the next series when he scored again, this time from three yards out. Axton’s PAT cut the margin to 43-17.
Blankenship scored from the one with 7:11 to go and Honaker kicked the point after.
Brewster then electrified the crowd with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, racing past the Bulldog bench en route to the score after he picked up a Cougar pass on the goal line. Sullivan Central closed the scoring with a 3-yard TD run by Drew Robinette.
Maddie Potter tried and missed the kick, becoming the first female in Witten Field history to make a varsity play against the Bulldogs.
Smith, Reed, Diante Cecil (two sacks), and Robert Beavers were among the defensive big-play Bulldogs with a relentless game-long effort up front.
Tazewell coach Shane Allen said, “Sullivan Central had a good game plan. They took it to us early and even though we made some big plays later on, they never backed off and played hard until the final whistle. You have to admire that.
“I was pleased with our veterans. They made the plays when we needed them. Our fans helped us a lot. We had a full house for the third week in a row and that gets our guys pumped up. Fan support is a big part of our game,” concluded Allen.
Pope, who hit his first five passes, missed the next six, and finished with an impressive 256 passing yards, had a good night in a losing effort.
Overall, Tazewell had 472 yards in total offense with 339 rushing. The Dogs held a narrow 19-18 lead in first downs.
Tazewell hosts Chilhowie in the Homecoming game Friday.
At Bulldog Stadium/Witten Field
Sullivan Central...............10 0 7 6 — 23
Tazewell............................3 19 21 13 — 56
First Quarter
S - Axton 19-yd. field goal
T – Blankenship 32-yd. run (run failed)
S – Krtausch 8-yd. run (Axton kick)
Second Quarter
T – Mountain 11-yd. pass from Davis (Blankenship run)
T – Moutain 54-yd. pass from Davis (Mountain 2-pt. catch)
Third Quarter
T – Blankenship 42-yd. run (Davis 2-pt. run)
T – Mountain 48-yd. pass from Davis (pass failed)
T- Davis 7-yd. run (Honaker kick)
S- Krtausch 3-yd. run (Axton kick)
Fourth Quarter
T – Blankenship 1-yd. run (Honaker kick)
T – Brewster 100-yd. interception return (kick failed)
S- Robinette 3-yd. run (kick failed)
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