Murphy – Everyone got to see the field Friday night, when the Murphy varsity football team celebrated homecoming with a huge win on the football field, defeating Rosman 71-0.
Murphy’s offense and defense were nearly flawless in their shutout of the Tigers (2-5), including second- and third-string players who came into the game as early as the second quarter.
Murphy’s defense held the Tigers to just 38 rushing yards and no passing yards. The Dogs (4-2) came up big on third down, allowing the Tigers zero third-down conversions and only one fourth-down conversion. The Dogs also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
The only blemish on the Dogs’ shutout win was one lost fumble and two penalties for 17 yards. Other than that, the rest of the game was sunshine and roses as Murphy cruised to victory.
The Dogs’ offense had 389 total yards on only 30 plays. They had 316 yards on the ground and 73 more in the air.
Eight players accounted for Murphy’s nine touchdowns. Ryan Payne and Grayson Hall had receiving touchdowns on Brady Grant’s two pass completions Friday night.
On the ground, Trenton Cook had two touchdowns, while Way Herron, David Rochester, Blake Davis, Michael Brown and Brody McFaddin had one touchdown each.
Friday night’s game got underway with Rosman getting the ball first. After three plays, including Janthony Gooden getting a sack for a five-yard loss, Rosman had to punt.
On Murphy’s first offensive drive of the night, it only took one play to find the end zone. Blake Davis received the handoff and rushed it in for a 36-yard touchdown. They converted the two-point attempt and the Dogs led 8-0 less than three minutes into the game.
After another three and out, Rosman punted again. On the return, Ryan Payne ran it back 77 yards for the second Bulldogs touchdown. They converted the two-point attempt again and led 16-0 with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.
Rosman got the ball back, this time fumbling it. Anthony Catuto recovered the fumble, and the Dogs got the ball back just 14 yards from the end zone.
On the first play of the drive, Grayson Hall caught a pass from Brady Grant for the touchdown. Dogs kicker Jerry Bui made the extra point, and the Dogs led 23-0 just over two minutes since their last score.
The Dogs defense came up with another stop and forced Rosman to punt once again. On the first play of the drive, the Dogs found the end zone on the first play of the drive.
Michael Brown rushed it in 35 yards for the score. Bui made the extra point and the Dogs led 30-0 with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter.
Rosman hoped to get to the second quarter without the Dogs scoring another touchdown, but Murphy had other ideas.
The Dogs forced a Rosman fumble on third down and recovered the ball just 10 yards from the end zone. On the first play, Brody McFaddin rushed it in for the touchdown. Bui made the extra point and the Dogs led 37-0 with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
Rosman got the ball back as the first quarter ended. They started the second quarter by punting the ball back to the Dogs.
After just one quarter, the field was tilted and the Dogs were sprinting downhill.
On the Dogs’ first play of the second quarter, Ryan Payne caught a pass from Grant for a 34-yard touchdown. Bui made the extra point and the Dogs led 44-0 only 15 seconds into the second quarter.
Rosman got the ball back and had to punt. Peyton Bain took over at quarterback for the Dogs on their next drive, and Grant had the rest of the night off.
During their drive, the Dogs handed the ball off to Way Herron, who he scored a 26-yard touchdown. They failed to convert the two-point attempt and led 50-0.
Rosman got the ball back and got its first first down of the game. On the next set of downs, Murphy got the stop and Rosman punted.
On the punt, Murphy fumbled and Rosman recovered. Once they got the ball back, they made it across the 50-yard line for the first time. Murphy then intercepted a pass to get the ball back just before halftime.
Once the Dogs got the ball back, Trenton Cook found the end zone on a 30-yard rush to add to the Dogs’ total. Bui made the extra point, and Murphy led 57-0 with 1:27 left in the second quarter.
After halftime, the Dogs began to play many of their second- and third-string players, giving their starters the second half off. The second half was also a running clock.
The Dogs started the half with the ball and David Rochester found the end zone on a 26-yard run. Bui made the extra point and the Dogs led 64-0 with a little less than nine minutes left in the third quarter.
On Rosman’s next drive, Isaiah Hedden intercepted, giving the ball right back to Murphy.
In the fourth quarter, Trenton Cook rushed in his second touchdown of the game from 14-yards ou and the Dogs led 71-0.
As the clock ticked away throughout the second half, Murphy’s offense and defense came up big to secure the shutout.
Cook led the Dogs on the ground with 82 yards. Payne led the team in receiving yard with 34 on one catch that was a touchdown. Grant had 48 passing yards and Bain had 25.
After Friday’s game, Bulldogs defensive end Camden Breazeale said it felt great to win on homecoming night.
“It’s a good feeling coming into another home game because we don’t have a lot of these this season, and I think we’re getting pumped for this next game coming up as well,” he said.
To prepare for the game against Robbinsville, Breazeale said, “We’re just going to bust our butts every day at practice and not let off on the gas at all.”
After the game, Bulldogs head coach Joseph Watson said he was proud of the player’s effort against Rosman. He added that he and the players are happy about getting the win on homecoming night..
Watson said the second- and third-string players who played in the game did well, on both offense and defense.
“Those kids practice hard every day, and they make themselves better and they make us better as well,” he said.
Friday night then will face Robbinsville in their only back-to-back home game this season. Watson said they will prepare this week like they do every week.
He said it’s always great to play at home, and that the players are excited to face Robbinsville.
Up next
The Dogs will play return home the second straight week as they host Robbinsville (5-2). The game is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on David Gentry Field at Bob Hendrix Stadium.