Creswell, Sports Zone

Battling Bulldogs suffer Homecoming heartbreak

BULLDOGS RUNNING BACK TAYLER FORSMAN ESCAPES THE GRASP OF AN OAKERS DEFENSIVE BACK DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE CRESWELL VS OAKLAND GAME ON OCT. 5. THE CRESWELL BULLDOGS LOST TO THE OAKLAND OAKERS 12-18 AND HAVE A CURRENT SEASON RECORD OF 1-5. Christopher Palanuk/The Creswell Chronicle

A tough 12-18 overtime loss to the visiting Oakland Oakers during the Bulldogs’ Homecoming football game on Oct. 5 leaves the embattled Dawgs still in search of their first league win of the season.
”It was a good game, but a tough loss,” said Head Coach Scott Worsham. ”We played well enough to win; we should’ve won that one.”
The teams were well matched and neither scored in the first period.
Early in the second quarter, Dean Howard caught a 56-yard pass from quarterback Dallton Dewey to give the Dawgs a 6-0 lead. The extra-point kick attempt died with a bad snap on the slick field, and the Oakers answered on their next possession for a 6-6 halftime tie.
Oakland scored again in the third and held a 12-6 lead until Tayler Forsman, now at quarterback, scored on a 38-yard keep up the middle to tie it at 12-12 with about three minutes remaining in the game.
”We fought so hard to tie it,” Worsham said.
Forsman’s attempted two-point conversion fell about three inches short.
With the clock winding down, both teams had chances to win it. Forsman intercepted an Oakland pass with about two minutes remaining but answered by throwing an interception of his own.
”Dallton was wide open, but Tayler got hit in the back just as he was throwing and the (Oakland) kid just dove to get the interception,” Worsham said.
Oakland’s last stand was a 40-yard field goal attempt that fell about five yards short.
In overtime, each team had one offensive possession. Creswell ran it down to the four-yard line but at fourth-and-short fumbled on a quarterback keep. Oakland scored on a 20-yard run about three plays later to end the game.
Dewey completed eight of 18 passes for 110 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Forsman was 0-for-2 with an interception.
Forsman also caught three passes for 21 yards and made 14 rushing attempts for 88 yards and a touchdown. ”He’s been such a big part of our offense this year,” Worsham said.
Howard had two catches for 71 yards and a touchdown; Nick Mullens had one catch for 12 yards.
Gabe Hastings paced Creswell’s defense with eight tackles, two fumble recoveries and three sacks. ”He was all over the place on defense; he had a great game,” Worsham said.
Logan Johnson also had eight tackles and two fumble recoveries. ”He had a great game, too,” Worsham said.
Levi Bones had six tackles and a sack; Mullens had six tackles; and Dewey and Tyler Olson had four tackles apiece.
Forsman had two tackles, an interception and a pass deflection.
”Our defense really stepped up and made it really tough on Oakland, with an interception, four fumble recoveries and all those sacks,” Worsham said. ”It was an exciting Homecoming game; it was unfortunate that things just didn’t break our way in the end. Our kids stepped up and played really well all game long.”
Because their final two games of the season will be on the road, the Bulldogs will honor their nine seniors when Regis comes to town on Friday for Creswell’s Senior Night game.
”I hope we have a good turnout to honor those guys,” Worsham said.

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