Getting physical; Law take Bloomington by storm
Final Highlights: DC Law vs. Bloomington
Bloomington, Ill (westernkansasnews.com)-During his pregame meal and then again in pregame warm-ups, there was something very different about Dodge City’s starting quarterback: He was dawning Superman apparel; the shirt; the headphones; even the cape. Then he went out and had a performance that would have made Clark Kent pretty proud.
In his second start, Floyd accounted for seven touchdowns-threethrough the air and four on the ground as the Law overcame an early second-half deficit to upend Bloomington 57-47 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum Saturday night.
“The kid’s an athlete,” Head Coach Sean Ponder said after the game. “There’s not doubt about that. More than anything, the receivers did a good job of finding the holes in the defense.”
Early on the Law (3-2) couldn’t find any holes. On the game’s opening drive, Edge lineman Jason Townson sacked Floyd twice in the first three plays. Then Alex Fambrough, the hero in last week’s win over Salina, missed a 57-yard field goal-ending a tumultuous first sequence.
After Eric Broughton misfired on a 23-yard field-goal attempt on Bloomington’s first series, Dodge City’s offense got on track-driving 37 yards in seven plays. After Floyd’s third-down pass to Dominique Carson fell incomplete, Fambrough salvaged the possession with a 23-yard kick that split the uprights. The Law led 3-0 with 4:46 to play in the opening frame.
Dodge City added to the their lead early in the second quarter when Floyd hit Brandon Venson on a screen pass, and then watched the home-town kid sprint 14 yards to pay dirt. Fambrough missed the extra point, and Dodge City had a 9-0 advantage.
That lead grew to 16-0 midway through the second when Floyd, who finished the night 47 yards rushing on 18 carries, punched it in from a yard out-capping off a seven play, 30-yard march that ate up nearly 4:30.
Bloomington countered with a quick scoring drive of their own, setup by a 32-yard kickoff return by Lavaughn Macon. Two plays later, Charles Dowdell found Marcus Lewis for a 13-yard score. Broughton booted through the PAT and the Law lead was cut to 16-7.
Moments later, it was the Edge defense finally making a play. Coming into Saturday’s contest, Bloomington (0-4) had only three takeaways all season. They added a fourth when Flody’s pass over the middle bounced off the fingertips of Kendrick Ings and was intercepted by Ross Cochran. The former North Dakota star also tallied 12 tackles on the night.
The turnover fueled a five-play, 37-yard drive that resulted in Macon’s second touchdown; this time on a jet sweep from seven yards out-pulling the Edge to within two at 16-14.
“We had to change up our coverages,” Law defensive back Cashmin Thomas said. “He (Dowdell) was getting to us early.”
But Dodge City’s defense had plenty of help from the guys on the other side of the ball-who answered Bloomington’s 14-straight points when Floyd threaded a perfect pass, through traffic to Maurice Young for a 14-yard touchdown making it 23-14.
The edge made it a one-possession game right before the half when Broughton drilled a 22-yard field goal-setting up a wild final two quarters.
On the first play of the second half, Fambrough’s kickoff hit one of the Edge up men and caromed back to Fambrough in the end zone. After a lengthy discussion, the referees ruled it a safety and awarded two points to Bloomington.
“We need to talk to the commissioner and the rules committee to see what the exact call is on that,” Ponder said.
The Edge used the questionable call to their advantage-driving 29 yards in five plays and taking the lead on a Dowdell to Lewis touchdown pass. Broughton’s extra point pushed Bloomington in front 26-23.
“Falling down like that, something clicked,” Ponder said. “We needed that fuel to the fire.”
It was all Law from there-scoring touchdowns on their next five possessions, three of those on the ground by Floyd-who added another touchdown strike to Young. D.D. Hollyfield also found his way to the end zone from five yards out giving the Law a 57-41 lead with 1:45 remaining in the game.
Clinging to life support-Bloomington gave Dodge City a bit of a scare late after De’Andre Eagle, who returned from injury to make a circus catch in the right corner of the end zone. But Dowdwell’s pass on the two-point conversion was knocked away, keeping it a two-possession game.
“That was a big win for us,” Ponder said. “To travel that far was special. Our offense got it going a little bit, and our defense played fantastic.”
Next up: Dodge City at Salina Bombers-Saturday, April 12-6:30 p.m. countdown to kickoff; 7:05 p.m. 98.1 FM; z98mobile.com; all new KSKZ mobile app-download in app store and tuneinradio: KSKZ
Final Stats: dc law_bloomington final stats pack
