The Magnolia Bulldog football team wrapped up a perfect non-district season with a 21-14 come-from-behind victory over the Morton Ranch Mavericks Sept. 18, giving the Bulldogs strong momentum heading into district play.

The Bulldogs hosted a Morton Ranch team in turmoil after three of its coaches were dismissed just prior to the start of the season based on allegations they broke district policy and misused school funds.

Heading into the game winless on the season, the Mavericks were looking to notch their first win, and got off to a good start early on. Morton Ranch’s Cydney Sayles capitalized on a Bulldog mistake when he returned a Magnolia fumble 85 yards for a touchdown with 3:20 left in the first quarter to put the Mavericks up 7-0.

But the Bulldogs would answer in the second quarter when running back Chance David scored from seven yards out to tie the game at seven each.

Early in the third quarter the Bulldogs would take their first lead of the game when Chase Gragert scored on a 25-yard touchdown run with 7:26 left in the quarter. The extra-point made it 14-7 Magnolia. But the Mavericks would answer in the final seconds of the third when Floyd Mattison scored on a 4-yard jaunt to tie the game at 14-14.

With 243 of their 321 total yards coming on the ground, the Bulldogs relied almost exclusively on their running game the entire night. But it was their passing game that put the Bulldogs up for good. Magnolia quarterback Jordan Schuetz connected with Dominic Leabo on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 6:21 left in the game to put the Bulldogs up 21-14, a lead they would not relinquish.

A stingy Bulldog defense held the Mavericks to just 186 total yards, while picking off three passes by Morton Ranch quarterback Tyler Saltal. Magnolia also recovered a Maverick fumble, giving them four turnovers on the night.

The Bulldogs traveled to take on Waller in their homecoming game last Friday night. Results of that game were unavailable at press time. Next up for the Bulldogs is an Oct. 2 home game against district rival Willis.

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