The rain, wind, lightning and dropping temperatures hampered Friday night’s football action with some delays for Dresden at Riverside and a forfeit in Gleason’s homecoming game against Fulton City.
Even with the bad weather, the Lions remained undefeated on the season at 8-0 with a 42-3 shellacking of the Panthers. The weather could not stop Dresden from making big plays, nor could Riverside.
In Gleason it was all Bulldogs in the weather-shortened game that ended with 3:27 left to play in the first quarter and Gleason leading 20-0. After a one hour and 15 minute delay due to lightning, both teams decided to finish the game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Fulton City decided not to continue the game after transportation difficulties arose. It is second time this season Fulton City has made that decision, the other time against South Fulton. That game also ended with a 20-0 score.
Dresden 42, Riverside 3
It does not seem to matter what is thrown in front of the Lions, they find a way around it come out with a victory. Such was the case Friday night with strong northerly winds ushering in colder temperatures and a chilling rain. Not to mention a Riverside team wanting to end Dresden’s perfect season.
The Lions are getting accustomed to overcoming obstacles this season, and Friday night the Lions prevailed with some big plays.
The Lions had two touchdown plays of 65 yards, one over 50 and one for 27 to overpower the Panthers.
Colter Swafford got the scoring started for the Lions with a 52-yard run four minutes into the game. Three minutes later — after the Lions got the ball back — it was Devan Raymer’s turn for a big play. He scored on a 65-yard run to put the Lions up by two touchdowns.
Riverside’s Luke Ward gave the Panthers their only score of the game with a 20-yard field with 10 minutes left in the half. Dresden answered swiftly with a 65-yard scoring pass from Davis Moran to Logan Thomas.
The Lions went into the halftime break with a 21-3 lead.
Raymer added to his touchdown total with about 11 minutes to play in the third quarter on a two-yard run.
The point after made it 28-3 in Dresden’s favor.
Torres Washington added to Dresden’s onslaught with a 27-yard run in the fourth quarter and scored again with about two minutes left to play on an eight-yard run.
Dresden will get back to District 13A action on Friday at Gleason.
Gleason 20, Fulton City 0
Gleason appeared to on its way to a major blowout over Fulton City with a steady rain coming down on the Bulldogs’ homecoming game.
Then the lightning began and each time it appeared the game would get back under way, more lightning lit up the sky.
After a lengthy rain delay, both coaches decided it would be best to continue the game on Saturday. But then Fulton City discovered it would not be able to make it on Saturday because of transportation problems.
Fulton City was clearly outmatched in the contest with Gleason in full control during the first quarter. The Kentuckians never got past their own 30-yard-line thanks to the swarming Gleason defense.
Gleason took the opening kickoff at the 34-yard-line and went the 66 yards in nine plays with Chase Ezell taking the ball in from 12 yards out.
Austin Perry sacked FC quarterback Artemius Joy and two plays later FC attempted a fake punt that only gained eight yards.
Gleason took over at the 22 and Ian Legens ran the ball for a 14-yard gain and then ran it in for the TD from eight yards out.
Will Clark recovered a FC fumble two plays into the FC Bulldogs next drive at the 25-yard-line. Chris Copeland ran the ball in for the score from seven yards out just four plays later. That was when the game officials ushered the players off the field.
The win moves Gleason over .500 with a 4-3 record. The Bulldogs will be looking for their first District 13A win of season on Friday when they play host to Dresden. Published in The WCP 10.9.12