DEFIANCE, OHIO -- The Defiance Bulldogs won their first game of 2010 by taking advantage of a St. Marys fumble in the end zone for a second-quarter touchdown that was the difference in the game.
The Roughriders outgained the Bulldogs on the night but could not take advantage of Defiance turnovers when given opportunities, and fall to 0-4 in the WBL for the first time since 1974. The '74 team went 0-6 in the league, before winning out to finish the season.
Defiance took the opening kickoff and proceeded to dominate the first quarter, gaining a couple of first downs on the first possession and holding the Riders to a three-and-out. Defiance then ran out the first quarter on a 15-play drive that resulted in a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
On third and goal from the St. Marys one yard line, Derron Pritchett bulled into the end zone for the game's first score. Andy Call hit the PAT kick to give Defiance a 7-0 lead at the 11:57 mark of the second quarter.
St. Marys controlled the ball for only 1:51 of the first 12:00 period.
The Riders moved the ball out to midfield but stalled on their next possession. On 4th and 5 at the 50 yard line, the snap almost sailed over punter Jarrett Taylor's head. Taylor knocked it down but was tackled at the St. Marys 41, and the Bulldogs took over on downs from there.
Both teams struggled to move the ball until a couple of series later. Following a Defiance 3-and-out, St. Marys had a first down on the Defiance 31 yard line. Mitch Newbauer broke through the Bulldog defense, which had been packing the line to defend the run, and outran the home team 69 yards to the end zone and a touchdown at the 3:00 mark of the second quarter. Alan Broyles kicked the PAT and the score was tied, 7-7.
The defense again held Defiance to 3-and-out, but Defiance punter Ryan Cordray's punt rolled all the way down to the St. Marys 4 yard line.
With 1:30 to play in the half, the Riders were out of sync in the wrong place at the wrong time. An illegal motion penalty moved the ball back to the 2. Defiance stopped the clock with a time out after a short gain by Newbauer. The Riders were called for another penalty, illegal procedure, and Defiance called another time out following a short gain by Dustin Fisher.
With eleven defenders crowding the line of scrimmage, Defiance was ready to strike when T.J. Powell bobbled the ball in the end zone where Mike Ramirez fell on it for a Bulldog touchdown with 1:00 left in the half. Andy Call's PAT attempt was wide, and the score was set at Defiance 13, St. Marys 7.
Neither team could move the ball effectively in the second half. St. Marys' best opportunity to score came halfway though the third quarter, when Trey Sherman recovered a Nick Lopez fumble at the Defiance 31 yard line. But two short running plays and two incomplete passes turned the ball over to the hosts at the 25 after four plays.
The Riders moved the ball past midfield once more, and held Defiance to just one first down in the second half, but the damage had been done.
Mitch Newbauer led all rushers with 156 yards on 26 carries. Derron Pritchett carried the ball 28 times for 92 yards, and Shallus Beatty gained 38 yards for Defiance. Defiance quarterback Kurt Belau completed three passes for 29 yards, and St. Marys quarterback Derek Roop completed one of eight passes for seven yards.
St. Marys finished the game with 204 yards of total offense to Defiance's 169 yards, but the Bulldogs clock management and opportunistic defense at the end of the first half proved to be the final margin in the game.
Defiance improved to 1-3 in the WBL and 1-4 overall, while the Riders record is now 0-4 and 1-4, respectively.
Next Friday, Defiance travels to Van Wert, and St. Marys hosts Wapakoneta in the Hall of Fame game at Skip Baughman Stadium. Wapak shocked the undefeated Ottawa-Glandorf Titans tonight at Wapakoneta, 42-21.
Scoring summary:
11:57 Q2 D 1-yard Derron Pritchett run, Andy Call PAT kick good, SM-0 D-7.
03:00 Q2 SM 69-yard Mitch Newbauer run, Alan Broyles PAT kick good, SM-7 D-7.
01:00 Q2 D Mike Ramirez SM fumble recovery in end zone, Andy Call PAT kick wide right, SM-7 D-13.