GREENTOWN — Time wasn’t the Bulldogs’ friend in the final minute of play, as Eastern defeated Lapel in the opening round of the sectional 34-31.
With little more than a minute remaining in the game, the Bulldogs scored on a 28-yard pass from Cole Alexander to Charlie Prough to take a 31-27 lead. However, a minute was all the Comets needed to go 55 yards to score their own touchdown and lead for the final time, ending the Bulldogs’ hopes of advancing to Round 2.
The back-and-forth battle had the Bulldogs leading after both the first and second quarters, and the teams were tied at 24 at the end of the third.
Alexander, who had returned from an earlier injury, went 14 of 28 on the night and passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Tyler Dollar also was back in the lineup after missing a few games from an injury. He had two touchdowns, one from a 29-yard pass from Alexander and the second on a 2-yard run.
Also scoring for the Bulldogs were senior Noah Frazier and kicker Jorge Moneo, who had a field goal and four PATs.
The Bulldogs ended their season at 6-4.
Despite sitting out a game, Alexander passed for more than 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Senior Josiah Scott led the team in rushing with 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns. Prough led the receivers with 874 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs weren’t just their offense. The defense kept seven opponents under 20 points. Parker Allman, Drew Darlington, Tanner Mroz and Brandon Wood led the team in tackles. All but Wood, a senior, should return to the lineup next season.
