PORT JERVIS –– The Sullivan West Bulldogs paid a visit to the Eldred Yellow Jackets for a battle of undefeated teams on Saturday. The league matchup was held at Chase Field at Port Jervis High School, due to construction at the home field of the Yellow Jackets. The conditions were a beautiful crisp fall afternoon sixty-eight-degree day at noon. 

When the action got underway Eldred set the tone with a turnover on downs in the opening drive of the game for the Bulldogs. Eldred capitalized on the Defensive stand with an opening drive touchdown. Yellow Jacket Quarterback Keon McGill connected with Connor Ranado on wide receiver screen passing touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good, and Eldred would go up 8-0. Once Eldred grabbed the early, lead they would not look back leading this game wire to wire. 

The initial wide receiver screen would foreshadow what was to come as Eldred would utilize screen plays as a big weapon for most of the game against Sullivan West. The Bulldogs struggled to get anything going on offense in the first half. Following a 3 and out on the Bulldogs second position, Eldred would find the endzone again. A twenty-five-touchdown run by McGill, was set up by a 55-yard pitch and catch from McGill to Trai Kaufmann. Eldred would go for 2, and convert, to bring the score to 16-0 to close the first quarter.

The second quarter started with another Bulldog offensive possession that could not get going. Following another Bulldog 3 and out, Eldred would score again. This time.McGill would connect with Kaufmann for a long 55-yard touchdown strike. This made the score 22-0 Yellow Jackets with 9:24 remaining in the second quarter. The next Bulldog’s possession would lead to the first sustainable drive. They had a promising long drive going seeing them get the ball inside the 20-yard line into the redzone. The Bulldogs would be denied by the Yellow Jackets off an 80-yard pick-6 by Eldred Defensive End James Deermin. 

This was for sure  the play of the day bringing the score to 28-0 mid second quarter. Eldred would go on to punch one more touchdown in before halftime seeing the connection of McGill to Kauffman link up for another passing touchdown. The score at halftime was 36-0 Yellow Jackets.

The second half would see the visiting Bulldogs find the scoreboard with a touchdown pass from Sullivan West Quarterback Adam Ernst to Tight End Todd Walter. Following the successful two-point conversion, this made the score 36-8 Eldred. On the following kickoff the Bulldogs successfully recovered the onside kick. This led to another Sullivan West touchdown strike. Bulldogs quarterback would hit Dylan Lockwood for a touchdown reception to cut into the Yellow Jacket deficit to make it 36-14 Eldred with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Just when the Bulldogs started to get back into the game, Eldred answered with a quick strike on their first play from scrimmage the on their next possession. McGill would find Kauffman for his third receiving touchdown to make the score 42-14 Eldred with 5:23 left in the game. The 42-14 score would hold for the remainder of the third quarter. The fourth quarter would feature one last gasp from the Bulldogs to get back into this game. Early in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs would find the endzone via the connection of Quarterback Ernst to Tight End Walter on the receiving end to make it 42-20 Yellow Jackets. 

A successful 2-point conversion made the score 42-22. Amidst the Bulldog’s comeback frustration began to boil over on the sideline between coaching staff and players due to the lack of execution and having to take inopportune time outs. The Bulldogs would find the endzone again middle of the fourth quarter to bring the score to 42-28. 

The following Yellow Jacket possession saw a long touchdown run by running back Jake Card to bring the score to 48-28 Eldred with 3:46 remaining in the game. This put an exclamation point on the day for Eldred. The Bulldogs would add one more score with a beautiful receiving touchdown hauled in by Lockwood from Ernst. This made the score, and ultimately the final score 48-36 Yellow Jackets. Eldred would remain undefeated going to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Bulldogs would fall to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.