LAKE HUNTINGTON – Billed as a “Clash of the Titans,” the encounter between the previously league unbeaten Sullivan West Bulldogs and the Tri-Valley Bears was projected to be an epic, down-to-the wire battle for the Division title. 

Both teams had assiduously prepared for this encounter and the coaching staffs of the opposing squads were confident that their efforts would result not only in the crown, but in the added boon of a bye in the first round of the playoffs next weekend. 

But from the opening kickoff after Tri-Valley had won the toss and deferred, the game revealed an entirely different script, one penned, signed, sealed and delivered by Sullivan West’s dominance on both sides of the ball. Football games are won or lost on the line of scrimmage and Sullivan West’s authoritative rule of the trenches wars was key in the one-sided Bulldogs’ 26-6 win. Tri-Valley’s success this season has been a total team effort but predicated, undeniably, on the play of senior Austin Hartman and his breakout panoply of rushing touchdowns which have been at the epicenter of that success. 

Sullivan West players and coaches knew that stopping him was essential and so they did by limiting the fleet-footed stalwart standout to just 115 yards of rushing that included a 51-yard solo touchdown. But it was the Bulldogs who scored first on a seven-yard run by QB Jaymes Buddenhagen, who followed that with the successful conversion to give the Dawgs an 8-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter. Buddenhagen’s ascension this season has been nothing short of exemplary. 

What ensued next was a series of events that led to T-V’s lone score. Rodney Wilson’s tackle of Hartman on a fourth down rush almost stopped the quarterback short, but he gained a first down, extending the drive.

Hartman then broke loose on a 51-yard TD gallop with 3:43 remaining. Although the 2-point conversion failed, Tri-Valley was on the board, trailing just 8-6. 

Using the deft running of Buddenhagen, Rally Cruz and Andrew Hubert the Dawgs needed only two minutes to advance the ball 77 yards, capped off by Buddenhagen’s ten-yard score. The conversion was stopped but the lead was now 14-6 by the end of the quarter. 

Tri-Valley was plagued by penalties of every variety including encroachment, offsides, an extra man in the huddle, face masks and sundry personal fouls. 

Sullivan West had its share of flags thrown at them as well. With 4:43 to go in the half, Cruz eluded a shoe-string tackle by Hartman to strike paydirt to make it 20-6. 

Sullivan West’s defense continued to nullify T-V’s attempted advances. Adam Ernst’s interception of a Hartman pass just before the break ensured SW’s two-score halftime edge. All of this football excitement had been preceded by a pregame honoring of the Bulldog seniors Jaymes Buddenhagen, Nate Coy, Max Ebert, Rodney Wilson, Dillan Hanslmaier, Andrew Hubert, Cameron Sulllivan, Robert VonGerichten and cheerleaders Becca Brewer and Anabella Wagner. 

The Homecoming court came forth and King Matthew Gattus and Queen Paige Muzuruk were crowned. SW Gridiron Club Parents presented Coach Ron Bauer with a banner signed by many of his former players in honor of his 80th birthday.

As the game proceeded, a Sullivan West touchdown was waved off after the officials ruled that Andrew Hubert was out of bounds on a pass from Buddenhagen.

Sullivan West won the battle of the turnovers as well, as Andrew Hubert stripped the ball from T-V’s Dylan Poley and another fumble was recovered by Hanslmaier. Following a great catch by Jakob Halloran, Buddenhagen would notch his third TD of the night with 4:19 to go in the game on a five-yard run. Again, T-V stopped the conversion. T-V tried valiantly to score once more before time expired but a pair of offsides penalties didn’t help. 

Neither did offsetting personal foul calls. With 18.4 seconds, backup QB Josh Carmody took a knee and the Bulldogs celebrated after the handshakes in their own endzone. 

Assistant Coach Justin Diehl heaped praise on his players who executed the game plan with near perfection. “Nobody thought we could run it back this year,” he enthusiastically chanted. 

The Bulldog players led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Coach Bauer. SW ended its league campaign at 5-0 (6-1 overall). Tri-Valley fell to 4-1 (5-2) and will host a first-round playoff game on October 29.