T.A.Dugger tames Toppers behind Slagle
Published 2:23 pm Friday, September 3, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders After grabbing a quick out pass the Cyclones Jackson Buckles (34) turns up field and drags the Hilltoppers Nathan Stout (25) down the field for a first down.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Cyclone quarterback Rhett Slagle (4) starts outside then cuts back up the middle before being tackled inside the five.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Jaiden Wallin (47) crashes through the line of scrimmage and bulls his way into the end zone for Cyclones second touchdown of the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Cyclones place kicker Williams Bowers (10) connects for his second PAT near the end of the first quarter. Bowers was 3-3 on PAT in the first half of the game.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders In the second quarter Jaiden Wallin (47) busts a run up the middle and rumbles to the three yardline setting up the Cyclones in great field position.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Cyclone quarterback Rhett Slagle (4) drops back and hits a little jump pass late in the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Cyclones Jaiden Wallin (47) pounds his way through an arm tackle and bowls over another tackler for first down yardage late in the second quarter.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Quarterback Rhett Slagle rushed for 115 yards and four touchdowns as T.A. Dugger knocked off Liberty Bell 35-6 on Thursday evening at Brown Childress Stadium to remain unbeaten at 5-0.
“We played good enough to win,” TAD head coach Brock Pittman said. “It wasn’t our best game but it is our second win this week. Not too many teams play twice in one week. My coaches do a great job getting these kids ready and we handled adversity pretty well.”
The Junior Cyclones opened the contest with a 13-play drive covering 51 yards with Slagle scoring on a 14-yard scamper. Will Bowers kicked the point after for a 7-0 TAD advantage.
On Liberty Bell’s second play Jordan Clark fumbled and the Cyclones took over at the Junior Hilltoppers 25-yard line.
Jaiden Wallin capped off the scoring drive with a three-yard run and with Bowers kicking the PAT the Cyclones took a 14-0 lead. In the second quarter, Liberty Bell had to punt on its first possession of the stanza and TAD took possession at the 49-yard line.
Wallin finished with 78 rushing yards on 16 attempts and Justius Wallin had 42 yards on five rushes.
Wallin blasted over the right side of his offensive line for 42 yards to the ‘Toppers three-yard line from where Slagle finished the deal to give TAD a 21-0 lead.
That was where the contest stood at the half.
In the third period, Jr. ‘Toppers quarterback Cole Resue was intercepted by Jack Blevins but Blevins fumbled on the return and Liberty Bell took over at the 34-yard line.
Hayden Smith capped off the only scoring drive of the game for the ‘Toppers with a three-yard plunge.
The point-after kick was blocked and TAD stood with a 21-6 advantage.
Slagle scored on runs of six and 15 yards in the fourth quarter to put the capper on the scoring.
“Slagle is a great player,” Pittman said. “He can throw it and run with it when he doesn’t have the pass. It was a total team effort tonight. Hard work brings good results.”
For Liberty Bell, Resue was 4-for-11 passing for 55 yards and Ian Mathes led the ‘Toppers in rushing with 36 yards on five tries.
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TA Dugger 35-6
Liberty Bell 0 0 6 0 – 6
TA Dugger 14 7 14 0 – 35
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
T – Slagle 14 run (Bowers kick) 3:16
T – J. Wallin 3 run (Bowers kick) 0:2.5
Second Quarter
T – Slagle 3 run (Bowers kick) 6:44
Third Quarter
L – Smith 3 run (kick blocked) 3:15
Fourth Quarter
T – Slagle 6 run (Bowers kick) 7:35
T – Slagle 15 run (Bowers kick) :8.5
