The record for the Magnolia Bulldog football team may have read 0-3 going into last weekend’s district opener against Northbrook, but there is certainly reason for optimism going forward.

Despite the winless record, the Bulldogs might be a sleeper in 18-4A after giving each of the three squads they faced in non-district play a scare, including a 2009 playoff team in Westbury on Sept. 17.

Taking on the Westbury Rebels in the season finale, the Bulldogs were going up against a team who was moved up to 5A after spending the last several seasons in 4A. Last year, the Rebels finished 7-5 and Division 1 Area Finalists.

This year, the Rebels seem to be having no problem with the jump in class, going 3-0 including a 14-10 win over Magnolia. But the Bulldogs made it interesting right up until the end.

Trailing 14-3 going into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs needed a pair of touchdowns and for their defense to hold the Rebels’ gashing running game at bay.

Magnolia came close to accomplishing that feat when, with 6:24 left in the final frame, quarterback Jordan Schuertz connected with Dominic Leabo on a 28-yard touchdown pass to cut the Rebels’ lead to 14-10.

But the Bulldog defense couldn’t make the stop and get the ball back into the offense’s hands as the Rebels came away with the win.

The Bulldogs made a good game of it from the start, holding the Westbury offense scoreless until just before halftime. With Magnolia leading 3-0 after a 31-yard field goal from Gunner Hayes, the Rebels got onto the scoreboard on a 14-yard touchdown catch from Donald Hayes.

With the score 6-3 to start the second half, the Rebels padded their lead when dual-threat quarterback Delvon Carpenter scored on a 61-yard scramble.

The ensuing two-point conversion put the Rebels up 14-3. Carpenter went 5-for-8 passing with 62 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 86 yards on six carries.

For the Bulldogs, the bulk of the offensive workload was split between running backs Chance David and DaJuan Chaney. David carried the ball nine times for 63 yards, while Chaney picked up 57 yards on the ground on 18 carries.

Leabo, Chaney and David have combined to rush for more than 400 yards this season through the Bulldogs first three games.

Next up, the Bulldogs will travel to take on Spring Woods Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. in the second district contest of the season.

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