Bulldogs traveling this week to take on Mountain Heritage
Murphy – After a disappointing loss to Andrews last week, the Bulldogs did exactly what they needed to do in the first round of the state 1A playoffs against Alleghany.
Fast start to build a big lead? Check. Running clock in the second half? Check. Rest starters before next week? Check. Everything went according to plan in No. 9 seed Murphy’s 58-20 win over the No. 24 seed Trojans.
“It’s playoff time, and we figured that it’s a new season and everybody was 0-0,” Bulldogs head coach Joseph Watson said. “We see a path where we can continue to roll and make a run at it. You gotta get the first one, and our kids were ready to come out and get the first one under our belt.”
Murphy (7-4 overall) will travel to No. 8 Mountain Heritage (8-2) on Friday for the second round of the playoffs. The Cougars pasted No. 25 Ablemarle 51-0 in the first round.
After Murphy had a little more success the last few weeks making plays through the air than on the ground, Watson wanted to see his team return to their traditional ground and pound roots, and the Bulldogs finished the night with 375 rushing yards on just 31 carries.
Hunter Stalcup ran for 40 on Murphy’s first play from scrimmage, though 15 were taken off after an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Bulldogs. Three plays later, Ty Laney capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. Stalcup would get into the end zone on the next drive, scoring from 27 yards out to push the lead to 13-0.
Alleghany (2-8) would get on the board on the ensuing drive when Nick Rea hit Mack LeMasters for a 19-yard touchdown, but Murphy would respond with two more touchdowns in the first quarter. Both came on the ground, with Laney breaking free for a 70-yard run and Juan Allen getting in on the touchdown party with a 21-yard run.
In the second quarter, the Trojans had three costly turnovers in their own territory that put the game away. Murphy scored touchdowns after all three, and led 50-7 at halftime. The Bulldogs starters barely saw the field in the second half, and freshman Jonah Hedden scored his first career varsity touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Murphy will have a big step up in competition next week against Mountain Heritage. The Cougars made it to the state 2A championship last year, but dropped down a class this year.
“They’re a downhill team,” Watson said. “They have some big tackles and big guards that will try to pull and kick you out. This week, our defensive line and our linebackers are going to have to play their butts off. Offensively, we’re going to have to block and continue to mix things up on them, and make them defend the entire field.”
Though it was against an overmatched opponent, Watson thinks his team may have found something this week. Murphy has taken its lumps this year and has been banged up the last few weeks, especially on the line.
However, things are simple in the playoffs. Just play as hard as you can, try to come out on top and get another week together.
“I feel like we are just starting to figure things out,” Watson said. “Sometimes it takes some teams a little longer to figure things out, but I do feel like we’re peaking in the right direction and kind of getting hot at the right time.”