By Chris LaClair
Eagle Times Sports Editor
CLAREMONT, NH — The “Purple Dawgs” mascot seems very fitting for the Bellows Falls middle school football team after they let the dawgs out in a 72-8 dismantling Wednesday over a Claremont Eagles team who lost an eye popping 25 players to graduation last year.
After losing 24-8 last game to Lebanon, the Purple Dawgs were looking for redemption, which started early. BF’s Jacob Kissell took a partially blocked Eagles punt into the endzone for a quick special teams’ touchdown and Jaden Bazin would convert the 2-point conversion with a run for a BF 8-0 lead.
Claremont would punt on their next possession. Braiden Wheeler ran the ball in from 36 yards out on the very first play of the drive. Cooper Lovell would cap off the scoring drive with a 2-point conversion on the ground for a 16-0 lead.
The Eagles’ Kavin Watson would complete a nice 24-yard reception to Jacob Howard on a critical fourth down to prolong their drive. They fumbled on the next carry to give the ball back to the Dawgs.
Bazin would rip through the defensive line on his way to a 69-yard touchdown run. A reverse handoff would tack on two more points as BF went up 24-0.
The Eagles suffered another turnover as they couldn’t control the kickoff that Wheeler pounced on. He would take the play to the endzone on another long 42-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the game. Saul James would QB sneak across the line for another successful 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 32-0.
Bellows Falls Head Coach Tyler Haskell was very impressed and optimistic about his squad’s strong performance.
“The Purple Dawgs played a complete game,” Haskell said. “It was nice to get some playing time for the second-string players as we are excited to see where the rest of the season takes our team.”
The Eagles fumbled on their next possession leading to Wheeler’s third rushing touchdown of the day from 13 yards out. Kissell would convert for a 40-0 lead.
Wheeler showed his dominance again as he sacked the Eagles quarterback and recovered the loose ball, taking it to the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the first half. Lovell would convert his second rushing conversion for a 48-0 halftime lead.
The second half was an opportunity for BF second string players to get playing time.
The Eagles kicked the ball to the Purple Dawgs 40-yard line. Caden Touissant did his best Madden impression as he juked, spun and side stepped around several defenders on his way to end zone for a 60-yard rushing touchdown.
Lovell, Bazin Kissell and Wheeler would complete the scoring with second half touchdowns. Bazin would also send a kickoff into the endzone for a touchback, which is very uncommon at the middle school level.
The Eagles would end the game on a few positives. Gabriella Rheaume had two huge tackles to stop BF 2-point conversion attempts. Running back Caleb Clark ended the game on a 50-yard touchdown and converted the 2-point conversion.
“We have a very inexperienced team this year, but we will get better,” said Claremont Head Coach Duford. “They are a great bunch of kids that just need a little time to improve and learn the game.”
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