Welsh blanks Iota

WELSH – Under the bright lights of Thursday night in Welsh, it became quickly and abundantly obvious that Iota was in for a long night.
Maybe it was the 20-0 deficit at the end of the first frame or maybe it was the fact that the Iota Bulldogs only mustered up 48 yards on 25 plays in the first half while the Welsh Greyhounds had 27 plays for 240 yards. Maybe it was all of it.
Either way by the end of the game, the Greyhounds had improved to 2-2 and the Bulldogs to 0-4 thanks to Welsh’s dominant 34-0 win.
“We took a good, old-fashion butt-whoopin’,” said Bulldogs coach Neal Lege’. “They executed on offense; on defense, they got after us; bottom line is they gave way more effort than we gave.
“They were faster. They did everything better than us.”
In a matter of about six-and-a-half minutes, Welsh would score three touchdowns (and successfully convert a two-point conversion attempt). Two of the three scores came via the offense, while one came on special teams; all of this, in the first quarter.
“When you don’t come out ready to play, again, it’s effort, bottom line,” said Lege’.
“When you don’t give effort and the other guy does, that’s what happens, you get your butt whooped. And until (that changes), that’s what’s going to happen, week in and week out.”
Welsh got its first chance 11:23 in the game when Iota coughed up the ball at the 50-yard line. It took five plays to get into the end zone, and those aware of the Greyhounds will not be shocked to find it was Keshon Bell, one half of Welsh’s lethal two-headed running back monster, that punched it in from 8 yards out. Zack Hayes’ pass to Bell was good for the two-point conversion. The drive took 2 minutes, 25 seconds and was also highlighted by two double digit-yard runs by Bell and an 18-yard pass Hayden Freeland to Brandius Batiste.
The Greyhounds would not let sleeping dogs lie in the first quarter, either, as they forced an Iota three-and-out and a punt. Triston Fontenot’s punt landed at the 35 yard line and Welsh’s Gerrick Gray took the punt all the way back for a touchdown with 5:42 left in the first quarter. With still almost half the quarter to go, the Bulldogs were down 14-0, and it was not over yet.
After moving the ball 29 yards, the drive stalled and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at the Welsh 35 yard line. The Greyhounds responded with a one-play touchdown drive with Kyvonte Eaglin running the full 65 yards for the score with 2:05 remaining. It was 20-0, and Welsh was in full control.
For its part, the Bulldogs defense shored up some and the Greyhounds were able to begin milking the clock early, but regardless. Welsh would cross the goal line twice more in the game, once in the second quarter and once in the third.
For its fourth scoring drive, the Greyhounds took 4 minutes and 31 seconds. The drive, which began with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter and on its own 33-yard line, featured a 13-yard and a 20-yard run from Bell as well as Freeland completing three passes, out of four attempts, for 23 yards. But, in the end, Bell would get the nod again, scoring from 11 yards out with 8:05 remaining in the second quarter. Trevor Lopez added the extra point and gave the Greyhounds a 27-0 lead.
The remainder of the second quarter, both teams traded possessions. Iota would punt the ball after four plays then Welsh would drive 28 yards in 4 minutes, 31 seconds before turning the ball over on downs at the Iota 21 yard line. Iota was given one last shot before the end of the half, but with only 58 seconds remaining and no offensive rhythm, the Bulldogs would only manage to move the ball 7 yards before the halftime buzzer.
The Greyhounds began the second half with the ball and proceeded to march down the field 56 yards in 5 minutes, 7 seconds, systematically running the ball with Bella and Eaglin sharing rushing duties still. Eaglin would get his second touchdown of the night from 1 yard out and, this time, Ross Migl would kick the extra point.
Up 34-0, Welsh finally began subbing in more and more reserves and happily began taking every second they could off the clock on offense.
Meanwhile, when Iota had the ball in the second half, a few more positive moments occurred, such as double digit rushes from quarterback Tim Lunson and backup running back Kaleb Guillory, but Iota could not sustain a drive and the Bulldogs would remain off of the scoreboard.
“We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Lege’. “It’s the same old story.”
Compounding the offensive issues, Iota’s workhorse runner, Adam Ardoin, injured his knee midway through the first half and would not see any action after.
“Trainer told me he hurt his knee, so they’re going to evaluate him (Friday morning) and we’ll see what he has,” said Lege’. “He’s had a little knee problem in the past, so, I don’t know if he re-aggravated it or what."
Lunson would finish his night 5-7 for 35 yards in the air and rush for 6 yards on nine carries. Guillory would end the night with 42 yards rushing on 12 carries and in his limited appearance, Ardoin would go five carries for 32 yards.
Bliss Deshazo would carry the ball twice for 16 yards and would also go 1-3 for 8 yards in the air in mop up duty time. The top Bulldogs receiver for the night was Kade Covalt, who hauled in two catches for 28 yards.