All three competitive Bulldogs’ teams scored victories in the season-opening weekend for Valley minor football.
With Truro providing the opposition for all three teams Sept. 7 on Kinsmen Field in Canning, the bantam Bulldogs eked out a 14-12 win over the Freightliners.
The peewee and atom Bulldogs both had an easier time of it, the peewees blanking the Blue Bombers 25-0 and the atoms topping the Truro Tide 26-6.
In the bantam game, the difference in the two-point Valley win ended up being Bulldogs’ kicker Jacob Ogilvie’s foot.
Truro struck first when Kamryn Matheson returned a kick-off for a touchdown, but the conversion attempt failed, leaving Truro with a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs responded to tie the score on a rushing touchdown by Royce Glomeau, and took the lead on Ogilvie’s successful convert.
Valley added to their lead on a touchdown pass from Caleb Melanson to Alex Hayes. Another Ogilvie convert made it 14-6.
Truro continued to apply pressure on the Valley boys, and was rewarded with a touchdown by Riley Gabriel to pull the Freightliners to within two points at 14-12. The Valley defence was led by great pressure from the defensive line, particularly from Kyle Chappus. According to his coaches, Chappus was consistently in the backfield.
The pressure led to four interceptions by the Bulldogs, by Alex Hayes, Ogilvie, Jack Hayes and Mitch Miller, along with numerous sacks and tackles for losses.
In the peewee game that followed, Sami Whidden, a new player this year, led the way offensively with three touchdowns. Owen MacRae converted all three scores, and also added a single point on a missed field goal attempt.
The Bulldogs’ defence was dominant throughout the game and was a real team effort. Truro ran just 36 offensive plays the entire game, and ended up with a net minus 18 yards on the day.
The third game featured a strong performance by a young atom Bulldogs team. Nate Oickle led the scoring with three touchdowns and Tyler Croteau added a single major. Riley Fulton accounted for the final point on a single.
The Bulldogs’ defence, according to the coaches, was solid all day, and “only bent a little” in allowing Truro to score one touchdown.
The teams are back in action at home today.