Bulldogs quarterback Dalton Dewey makes a break for it as Tigers Denver Blackwell misses the tackle during the first quarter of the Creswell vs Bandon matchup on Sept. 21. The Creswell Bulldogs lost to the Bandon Tigers 19-32 and have a current season record of 1-3. CHRISTOPHER PALANUK/THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
A hard-fought 19 to 32 loss to the visiting Bandon Tigers on Sept. 21 dropped the Creswell Bulldogs’ preseason football record to 1 to 3.
”They like to run up the middle, and we were able to shut that down,” Creswell Head Coach Scott Worsham said of Bandon. ”But their quarterback was slippery, able to get away and make things happen, and they have a couple of fast kids who were able to get deep into our secondary.”
Quarterback Dallton Dewey scored on an eight-yard run and Levi Bones added the extra-point kick to give Creswell a 7 to 0 first-quarter lead. But the Tigers responded with a pair of touchdowns in the second for a 13 to 7 halftime advantage.
Early in the third period, Dewey nabbed an interception; on the Dawgs’ next series, Bones scored on an eight-yard pass from Dewey.
”That was a pretty big play,” Worsham said. ”After Dallton caught the interception, then made a nice pass for a touchdown to tie it, we were feeling pretty good about our opportunity.”
Bones’ extra-point kick was blocked, and again Bandon answered with a pair of touchdowns. The quarter ended with Creswell trailing 13 to 26.
In the final period, Bandon added another TD, and Tayler Forsman scored on a 20-yard pass from Dewey on Creswell’s last play.
The game came down to the Bulldogs’ offensive turnovers: four interceptions and a fumble. ”Just when we had the momentum going and were moving the ball, a turnover would occur and break us,” Worsham said. ”If we eliminate those, we’d be right in the ballgame. We had just as good a shot to win as we did the week before.”
Dewey completed 15 of 23 passes for 136 yards, with two touchdowns, one fumble and three interceptions.
Forsman was 0-for-1 passing, with an interception.
Forsman made 10 catches for 108 receiving yards and a touchdown, Bones made three catches for 14 yards and a touchdown, Gabe Hastings made one catch for 11 yards and Jackson Parker made one catch for three yards.
Forsman made four rushing attempts for 60 yards, Nick Mullen made four attempts for 25 yards and Hastings made three attempts for 17 yards.
Bones led Creswell’s defense with nine tackles. Hastings added six, Mullen and Jaycob Kremer each had five, Marquin Robinson had three and Dewey had three plus an interception.
The Bulldogs, who are playing at the 2A level this year, open league on Friday at Central Linn.
”We’re improving each week, and we’ve proven we can play good football,” Worsham said. ”Central Linn’s a good team; they’ve got a big running back who’ll be tough to take down and some pretty big linemen, but I think we’ve got a good opportunity to play to our strengths and exploit some of their weaknesses,” Worsham said. ”Hopefully we can open league up with a win.”
