Since David Wagner became the head coach of the Winder-Barrow High School football team he has preached an all-out defensive effort.
The Bulldoggs, despite their overall struggles, have managed to deliver on Wagner’s promise of hard-hitting and aggressive play on the defensive side of the football. In last Friday’s game with undefeated Heritage, the defensive effort was very clear.
It took two third quarter touchdowns by the visiting Patriots to put the game out of reach in what turned out to be a 21-0 contest. The win improved Heritage to 7-0 overall and within Region 8-AAAA play. It marked the first time the Patriots have managed to win inside W. Clair Harris Stadium.
While Wagner is never happy with the loss, the WBHS coach was pleased by the overall effort of his team.
The coach said the Bulldoggs used some different defensive schemes in an attempt to keep Heritage off balance but noted the Patriots’ superiority and size eventually proved to be too much to overcome.
Heritage took a 7-0 lead near the end of the first quarter on a one-yard keeper from quarterback Ryan Sutton.
Neither team would score for the remainder of the first half with each drive ending in punts.
Two third quarter drives gave the Patriots the breathing room they needed. Dominic Craft finished a 70-yard drive with a three-yard run with 7:21 left in the third.
Heritage scored on its next offensive series, capped on a 31-yard pass from Sutton to Quami Stanley with 2:28 still left in the third quarter.
Needing points fast, WBHS began putting together a drive, helped in part by a 45-yard pass from Christian Hodge to Dante Jones. The drive would eventually reach the Patriot 10-yard line before turning the football over on downs.
The Heritage defense also was stellar as it limited the Bulldoggs to just 38 yards on the ground. WBHS managed to move past midfield just twice in the game.
Craft was the leading rusher in the game with 97 yards on seven carries. Stanley added 63 yards on 13 rushes while Jakeem Martin had 47 yards on eight attempts.
For the WBHS Bulldoggs, Jamonte Riden had 33 yards on 13 rushed. Hodge was 7-of-16 through the air for 99 yards. Brandon Jackson and Jones both had three receptions.
One key stat in the game according to the WBHS coaches was field position. The Bulldoggs had 10 possessions in the game with an average starting field position of their own 26-yard line. The team managed to convert on just two third down attempts.
Still, Wagner was pleased by his team’s showing on defense against an undefeated team.
“We continue to improve in many areas,” the coach said. “We understand we are making progress.”
Loganville visits W. Clair Harris Stadium this Friday as the Red Devils are in need of a region win to stay in playoff contest. The Red Devils held off Cedar Shoals last week to improve to 3-3 in region play. Another loss would likely prove fatal to Loganville’s postseason chances.
