UTICA — Needing a shot in the arm for the confidence of its injury depleted team, the Utica Redskins got the exact opposite Friday.
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The Redskins turned the ball over three times and watched as Heath ran over and around them in a 46-13 Bulldog victory at Utica High School.
“We got off to a horrible start,” said Utica coach Randy Felumlee. “We talked about the disappointment of many things, but nothing was more horrible than our start. That’s the last thing we needed to have happen. It wears on the mind set of a team that lacks confidence.”
The start of the game couldn’t have been any worse for the Redskins (0-3) as Heath took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field, scoring on a 20-yard pass from freshman quarterback Aidan Dyer to Nick Allen. A Utica turnover then gave Heath prime field position and before the fans were completely settled in their seats, it was 13-0. Donyelle Simpson scored on a 36-yard run for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (1-2) didn’t take too much more time to score another two touchdowns, leading 26-0 with 9:25 still remaining in the second quarter. Kameron Herring scored on a 1-yard run and Evan Fry ran it in from 33 yards for the two scores.
Utica tried to battle back, marching 80 yards for a score. The big play in the drive came when Heath was called for a running into the kicker penalty as Utica tried to punt. That gave the Redskins new life and they watched as Jon Swint rumbled 31 yards for the score.
The Redskins got a break to begin the third quarter as the Bulldogs fumbled the ball as they were driving. The offense took that spark and started marching down the field. But, another turnover proved costly as quarterback Clay Rowley was intercepted deep in Heath territory.
