Murphy – The Bulldogs will play their final home game of the season Friday night in the West Regional round of the state 2A playoffs after defeating No. 5 seed Corvian Community 49-40.
It was 32 degrees at kickoff as fans bundled up and headed to Bob Hendrix Stadium as the Dogs punched their ticket to the regional round with a victory. Murphy had a strong first half, combined with big plays late, to defeat the Corvian Cardinals at home under the frigid Friday night lights.
The Dogs got the ball to start the game, and running back Cameron Clem broke free for a huge run that ended at Corvian’s 1 yard line. Quarterback Brady Grant then found the end zone on a quarterback keeper for the first score of the game. The two-point conversion was good, and the Dogs led 8-0 just 19 seconds into the game.
Corvian got the ball and found the end zone on a big run. They made the extra point to make the game 8-7 just over a minute after the Bulldogs scored.
On Murphy’s next drive, the Dogs worked down the field before Clem rushed into the end zone from the 3 yard line for his first touchdown of the night. Kicker Jerry Bui made the extra point, and the Dogs led 15-7 with 6:56 left in the opening quarter.
Murphy’s defense came up big on the next drive and forced Corvian to punt. The first quarter ended with the Dogs deep in Corvian’s end of the field.
Early in the second quarter, Grant scrambled and found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the night. Bui made the extra point to extend the Dogs’ lead to 22-7.
Corvian then worked their way down field, and their quarterback rushed the ball into the end zone for the score. Murphy’s Janthony Gooden stood tall and blocked the extra point to make the score 22-13.
Less than a minute after Corvian scored, Clem broke through the Cardinals’ defense for a huge gain. He got the ball again and took it to the house for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, but the Dogs led 28-13.
Murphy’s defense came up big again on the next drive with two sacks, forcing Corvian to punt. However, on the first play of the Dogs’ next possession, the ball was fumbled and Corvian recovered it.
Once Corvian got the ball back, they found the end zone in the air on the first play. The ball deflected off of a Murphy defender and into the hands of a Corvian receiver in the end zone. They made the extra point, but Murphy still led 28-20 with 3:25 remaining until halftime.
Murphy got the ball back and bounced back with a score of their own as Clem found the end zone once again. Bui made the extra point, and the Dogs led 35-20 with 1:18 left in the second period.
The Dogs weren’t done, as they put together big plays on offense and defense in the final minute of the first half.
On Corvian’s next drive, the Cardinals fumbled and Dalton Farmer recovered it to give the Dogs the ball back with less than a minute remaining. Blake Davis broke through the Corvian defense for a huge rushing touchdown with 31.9 seconds left, and Bui made the extra point to put the Bulldogs up 42-20.
Corvian had just enough time for one more score before halftime. After a big kickoff return, they found the end zone in the air with 6.6 seconds left. They made the extra point to make it 42-27 in a high-scoring first half.
The Dogs were held scoreless in the third quarter, but they held Corvian to one touchdown. Corvian got the ball to start the second half and the drive ended quickly, as Grayson Hall got an interception. Despite the turnover, the Dogs punted on their next drive.
The Cardinals got the ball back and worked their way down the field and eventually found the end zone in the air from 36 yards out for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, and the Dogs still led 42-33.
Murphy started the fourth quarter with the ball and punted. Corvian worked their way down the field and set up for a 54-yard field goal attempt, but Murphy jumped offsides. Corvian then set up for a 49-yard field goal attempt, which came up short.
Murphy took over after the missed field goal and drained as much time off of the clock as they could before punting. With about two minutes remaining, Corvian took over deep in Murphy’s end of the field.
On a pass play, Murphy put the final nail in the coffin. Ryan Payne snatched a pass out of the air for an interception, giving Murphy the ball back with 1:42 remaining in the game.
The Dogs took over at the Corvian 22 yard line. They ran one play, then assumed the victory formation to run the clock out and win the game.
After the game, Murphy head coach Joseph Watson said the Bulldogs hung in there despite a rocky second half.
“Just happy to be playing another week, and that’s what it’s all about,” Watson said.
On Friday night, the Dogs have another chance to add a number to the scoreboard signifying that they are the West Regional champions.
Watson said that is a big motivator heading into the game against No. 2 seed Starmount this week.
“It hasn’t happened in a while. It’s hopefully going to be a good week of practice, and we’re going to make sure that they understand what they can do with the opportunity they have,” Watson said.
Like the Dogs, Starmount had a first-round bye, then defeated No. 15 Cherryville, No. 7 South Stanly and No. 11 Mitchell to earn their spot in the final four of the 2A bracket. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday on David Gentry Field.