Bulldogs win a thriller game over New Diana

Queen City hosted New Diana on a Thursday night due to inclement weather forecasted for last Friday.

At the end of the third quarter the Eagles had a 22 point lead, but the fourth quarter was one for the ages.

In the end the Bulldogs pulled off an amazing comeback and won the contest 42-36.

First Quarter

New Diana won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball.

It took one snap, eight seconds and a trick play for the Eagles to find the endzone.

The point after was good and New Diana was up 7-0 with 11:52 left in the first frame.

QC’s first drive was a quick three-and-out, but a solid punt by Clint Wiley pinned the Eagles down at their own 6-yard line.

Tough defensive plays by Messiah Grundy, Kaden Fincher, Tyson Bell and Jason Joffray kept New Diana’s offense on its heels and the Eagles were forced to punt on its next possession.

The Bulldogs scored on its next drive. On the drive Wiley hit Fincher for an 8-yard pickup, New Diana was hit with a roughing the passer call and Delvon Federick picked up 47 yards in two plays; the latter a 32-yard gallop into the endzone. The 2-point play was no good but the Bulldogs closed the lead to 7-6 with 5:38 left on the clock.

Big hits by Federick and Mason Stringer kept New Diana off balance on its next drive, but the Eagles’ kicker did nail a 40-yard field goal attempt to increase the Eagles’ lead to 10-6 with 3:02 left in the opening quarter.

After the kickoff QC began its drive from its own 33. From there Federick sliced through New Diana’s defense for a 30-yard gain.

Wiley completed passes to both DJ Henson and Daketrick Smith, and before time ran out both Federick and Joffray picked up good chunks of yardage on the ground.

Second Quarter

The Bulldogs opened the second stanza at the 16-yard line. Wiley connected with Clint Wooding for eight yards, Federick picked up three yards and Fincher finished off the drive with a diving lunge at the pylon for a score.

The 2-point play was no good but QC was up 12-10 with 10:00 left in the first half. New Diana scored again at the 8:11 mark and went up 17-12 after the successful PAT with 8:11 left on the clock.

The Eagles put more points on the board at the 6:24 mark and went up 2412 with the good PAT. Quarterback pressure by Messiah Grundy, Federick and Joffray plus sacks by Ke’Idie Harrison, Joffray and Wright kept New Diana off the scoreboard for the remainder of the quarter.

Third Quarter

New Diana recovered an onside kick to start the new half, but a stout stand by the Bulldog defense forced a punt.

After the Bulldogs were forced to punt the ball away on its next drive, New Diana took possession and scored in just four plays.

The PAT was good and New Diana was up 31-12 with 7:16 left in the third quarter. Wiley opened the Bulldogs’ next drive with a nice 34-yard pass to Smith, but a fumble two plays later killed QC’s momentum.

New Diana took the ball 55 yards in 10 plays looking to score, but Messiah Grundy made a big play to keep the Eagles from scoring a TD.

Unfortunately New Diana’s kicker nailed a 33-yard field goal to put the Eagles up 34-12 with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

This quarter will be remembered for some time even if you’re a New Diana Eagles’ fan.

The Bulldogs opened the final quarter with a 22-point deficit on the scoreboard, but that didn’t keep QC down.

Wiley connected with Federick for 27 yards and a facemask penalty moved the ball to the 12. Joffray picked up seven to the 5-yard line before Wiley scored on a 5-yard QB keeper.

Federick scored the 2-point play and QC cut the lead to 34-20 with 11:03 left in the game. The Bulldog defense shut down any scoring attempt by the Eagles on its next drive and New Diana had to punt the ball away with 8:47 left in the game.

Starting from the 28, Joffray picked up a quick 16 yards on a nice run followed by 28 yards through the air from Wiley.

Wiley scored from 13 yards out on a QB keeper on just the fifth play of the drive, and cut even more into the Eagles’ lead.

Wiley also converted the 2-point play and the ‘Dawgs were down just 34-18 with 6:48 left in the contest.

A big pass play by New Diana set the Eagles up deep into Bulldog country on its next drive, but the defense held an forced the Eagles to attempt a 37yard field goal. The kick was blocked and QC took over with under four minutes left in the fourth frame.

A quick four-and-out gave New Diana possession of the rock at the QC 36, but a nifty 75-yard, pick-6 by Mason Stringer sent the fans into a joyous uproar. The 2-point play was unsuccessful but the game was tied 34-34 with 2:43 left on the clock. This is where it gets even more interesting.

QC’s defense stood tall and kept the Eagles from advancing on both first and second down. New Diana’s QB was sacked by Grundy and Harrison on third down, and on the ensuing punt play the ball sailed over the head of the punter and into the back of the endzone for a safety.

With 1:37 left in regulation the Bulldogs were up 36-34. Needing a first down to run out the game clock, QC started its drive from the 14 after the kickoff.

Unfortunately the Bulldogs ended up in punt formation after three plays. On the punt play the ball went through the back of the endzone for a safety and the game was tied at 36-36 with eight seconds left in the game.

OT

In overtime is where the Bulldogs completed its amazing comeback.

Wiley led QC towards the goal line on its first drive of the OT period, and capped off the drive with a 7-yard TD pass to Federick.

The 2-point play was no good but the Bulldogs were up 42-36. Federick made sure his TD was the only one scored in OT as the talented Bulldog made an interception and ended the game.