Bulldogs fall to New Diana in first district game

The Queen City Bulldogs were on the road last Friday night to take on the New Diana Eagles.

Queen City was coming off a loss to Hooks in the previous week and New Diana a loss to Alto.

The game began with the Bulldogs on offense. On the first play from scrimmage, the Eagles intercepted the ball and returned it to the Queen City 10-yard line.

The Eagles capitalized on the turnover by scoring on a one yard quarterback keeper on the third play of the drive to take a seven to zero lead early in the opening quarter.

Queen City was forced to punt on its next drive and the Eagles offense was stifled by a solid defensive effort by the Bulldogs.

Freshman Jeremiah Drayton caused a five yard loss and after two incomplete passes the Eagles had to punt the ball back to Queen City.

The teams traded possessions until New Diana found the end zone on a 45-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-point lead with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Eagles would go on to score an additional touchdown two minutes later.

At the beginning of the second quarter New Diana reached pay dirt on a nine yard pass and converted on the PAT.

With 11:48 remaining in the second quarter, the Eagles led 28-0.

Following the Eagles’ touchdown, the Queen City offense took over on its own 24-yard line. The Bulldogs began to move the ball on a combination of passes from quarterback Dylan Scott to TiAngelo Neal and Drayton.

A couple of penalties against New Diana also helped Queen City’s cause, moving them to the Eagles’ 30-yard line.

Queen City would eventually turn the ball over on downs, however.

At the 2:33 mark in the second quarter, the Eagles scored their last touchdown of the first half, this time on a six yard rushing play.

The teams entered halftime with the score of New Diana 35 and Queen City zero.

New Diana continued its success on offense early in the third quarter as it scored on another one yard rushing play to stretch its lead to 42 points.

Early in the fourth quarter with New Diana on offense, the Bulldogs came up with a defensive stop as Spencer Warren recovered a fumble near midfield.

Queen City capitalized on the forced turnover as Scott scored a touchdown on a one yard keeper.

The PAT was unsuccessful and New Diana led 42-6 midway through the final quarter.

New Diana went on to score another touchdown on its next drive and the game ended with a final score of Queen City six and New Diana 49.

The Bulldogs are back at Smith-Wall Stadium this week for Homecoming as they take on the DeKalb Bears.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.