Wednesday, September 18, 2024
The New London Bulldogs surrendered momentum in the third quarter against the Freedom Irish to lose 43-20 and start the season Aug. 23 with a home loss.
The Bulldogs came off a 2023 season in which they finished 2-7 and 1-6 in the Bay. The Freedom Irish ended their season at 4-5 and finished 2-5 in the Northeastern conference.
Each team came into the game with playmakers on both sides of the ball, which showed early in the first quarter. Irish quarterback Drew Kortz threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jack Bonnet to take a quick 6-0 lead for the Irish on the opening drive.
The Irish took a 12-0 lead as they drove down the field and scored on a six-yard touchdown run early on their second possession of the game.
On the next two drives, Bulldogs running back Tommy Fields and his offensive line took over as they cut the Irish lead in half to make it 12-6 after an 18-yard touchdown run by Fields on the following drive, the Bulldogs took the lead as Fields crossed the goal line for his second touchdown of the night. The Bulldogs took the lead on a two-point conversion when Fields caught a pass in the end zone.
In the second quarter, the Irish took back the lead as Kortz found tight end Kaiden Wagner on a 12-yard touchdown pass for a score and made it a 19-14 game.
A field goal by Nolan Phillips gave the Irish a 22-14 lead going into halftime. The Bulldogs took back the momentum at the beginning of the third quarter, as Fields scored his third touchdown on a five-yard run and made the deficit 22-20.
Fields finished the game with 174 yards on 30 rushing attempts and all three of the Bulldogs touchdowns.
On the Irish ensuing drive, the ball changed hands twice on one play. The Bulldogs gained possession on an interception but fumbled the ball on the return, and the Irish recovered. On the next play, Irish running back Aaron Hambel took off on a 60-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 29-20.
In the fourth quarter, Bonnet scored his second touchdown, this time on defense, as he intercepted a pass and took it to the end zone to make it a 36-20.
Kortz finished the game, taking off on a 34-yard scamper for a touchdown to make it 43-20 as time expired.
