The Marianna Bulldogs improved to 5-2 on the season last Friday night with a solid 30-14 win over the Bay High Tornadoes. The Dawgs scored early and scored often, putting up seven first-quarter points, 10 second-quarter points to take a 17-6 lead into the locker room at the half. The second half had Marianna putting up seven points in the third before the final quarter had six points on the board for the Bulldogs.
Marianna put the first points on the board with an electrifying 50-yard run by Elijah Peterson. Bo Ham put it through the uprights and the Bulldogs had a 7-0 lead. The Bay High Tornadoes charged back with a 65-yard run, but the point after kick failed and Marianna retained the lead, 7-6.
Marianna struck again on a 10-yard run by Jaden Smith and once again Bo Hamm was perfect from extra-point range. The Bulldogs had a 14-6 lead. Marianna wasn’t done for the half just yet. Bo Hamm showed his work was paying off as he connected on a 27-yard field goal to make it 17-6 game halfway through the game.
With 2:51 to go in the third quarter, Jaden Smith capitalized on a three-yard run. Making it a three-for-three night was Bo Hamm with the extra point and the Bulldogs were in control 24-6. That score held through the third quarter.
Bay High came back with a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion to narrow the lead to 24-14. That would be all she wrote for the Tornadoes. Marianna answered with a three-yard run by Elijah Patterson into the endzone, making it a 30-14 win for the Bulldogs.
On the night, Marianna outrushed Bay 360-78. Leading the Bulldogs on the ground was Damone Rolle with 17 rushes for 135 yards, followed by Elijah Peterson with 93 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns. Jaden Smith had 80 yards on 14 carries and two runs into the endzone while Troy Medlin had 12 carries for 50 yards. Hamm converted on three-of-four point after attempts and had one field goal for a total of six points on the night.
Marianna will be on the road Friday night (tomorrow) to Gadsden County for a 7:30 p.m. EST kick-off.
