Everyone knew going into the game that it was a tough season opener. The Lexington Bulldogs were a playoff team a year ago and several polls had them being a top 10 team this year. They had experience and speed. The first quarter was filled with fireworks with both teams finding the end zone twice. The scoring continued in the second quarter and at the half Lexington had the lead with a 23-21 score. The second half became the polar opposite of the first half. A defensive battle. Lexington managed another score and a two- point conversion to win the game 31-21. It was a hard fought game with both teams showing they will be contenders in their districts as the year advances.

Lexington started the game on their own 35-yard-line. Travelle Pelky, the talented offensive weapon who plays multiple positions took the ball and ran 65-yards for the first score of the game. The one play drive looked to suck the air out of the Sulphur sideline. The extra point was good making the score 7-0 with 11:42 in the first. Skyler Betterton took the kickoff and had a huge return to the Lexington 13-yard-line. Just a few plays later Caleb Neal took the handoff from Ty Williams and found pay dirt off the right side. Neal also kicked the extra point and tied the game at 7-7 with 10:00 in the first.

Lexington started the next drive from their own 31. After a penalty backed up Lexington, Dylan Walker pounced on a loose ball giving Sulphur back possession at the Lexington 22-yard-line. The Sulphur offense moved to the 12 -yard-line after a run by Neal. Two runs by Walker had the Bulldogs in the end zone with 6:57 in the first. The touchdown was opened up by a big block by Seth Summers up front. The extra point was good making the score 14-7 in favor of Sulphur. Lexington started the next drive from their own 42. A big fourth down conversion kept the drive alive. On the next play Pelky found a seem and was finally pushed out at the 24-yard-line by Williams. Pelky carried his team to the one where the Sulphur defense forced a fourth and inches. The Lexington line got a good push and allowed Kodey Tahsequah to find the end zone. The kick was no good making the score 14-13 in favor of Sulphur with 1:42 in the first quarter.

The Sulphur offense started at their own 26 but a penalty and a bad snap put them at there own 7-yard-line. Sulphur was forced to punt and after a booming punt by Walker Lexington took over at their own 43 to end the first. Lexington began a solid drive to start the second half.

Sulphur's defense forced another fourth down but a missed tackle allowed the ball carrier to get the first down and move the offense to the 24. The Lexington offense moved to the Sulphur four- yard-line but the Sulphur defense stood tall forcing Lexington to attempt a field goal with 5:10 in the second quarter. The kick was true and Lexington took the lead with a 14-17 score. Sulphur answered right back marching down the field like a well oiled machine. Neal found the end zone again from 5 yards out with 2:47 in the half making the score 21-17.

Lexington wasted no time firing right back and in a matter of minutes they were knocking on the door at the Sulphur 7-yard- line. It took several tries but they finally scored a touchdown. The two point conversion was good making the score 24-21 in favor of Lexington. That was the score at the half.

Sulphur started the second half at their own 41. A big catch by Neal moved the ball to the Lexington 32. Williams scrambled to the 25. Two runs later a dropped pass brought a fourth and nine to the Bulldogs offense. The pass attempt failed giving Lexington the ball back. Three plays later the speedy Pelky busted a long run for another Lexington score. The three play 68 yard drive made the score 21-31 in favor of Lexington with 6:35 in the third. Sulphur mounted another drive with good runs by Walker and Tyler Graves as well as a big catch by Betterton. However, the Lexington defense picked off a Williams pass at the 10 yard line. The Dogs defense stood tall and forced Lexington to give the ball right back with a punt. Sulphur took over at the Lexington 38. Runs by Neal and Walker put the Sulphur offense at the Lexington 25. After a Williams' run he was able to find Lesslie Stanford at the 11-yard- line to end the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was opened with runs by Williams and Walker. A good block by Jordan Barefoot brought the Sulphur offense to the Lexington 3. Facing fourth down from the three Neal was stopped short of the goal line giving Lexington back the ball. It was the third trip deep into Lexington territory without scoring. Sulphur forced another Lexington punt. The short punt gave Sulphur the ball at the Lexington 24. Another great chance to score. However, a sack and a dropped pass forced another fourth down. Sulphur couldn't convert and gave the ball back to Lexington. Pelky broke a couple of long runs and had his team at the Sulphur 15-yard- line. Sulphur was able to force a fourth down and get the ball back. A few plays later Neal broke a 93 yard touchdown run but a costly penalty negated the score. With under two minutes left Lexington was able to pick off a Williams pass and run out the clock handing Sulphur a 21-31 loss.

Sulphur had 236 yards of offense to Lexington's 458. Sulphur just punted once in the game. Sulphur was 6 of 20 passing for 88 yards. Williams led the way rushing for the Dogs with 71 yards on 13 carries. Walker finished the game with 52 yards and Neal had 23. Neal also had two catches for 29 yards. Stanford led the receivers with two catches for 35 yards. Pelky had a great game for Lexington rushing for 256 yards on 19 carries. After the game head coach Jim Dixon had this to say. "They are no doubt a good team. The Pelky kid is really good. He is really fast. I felt like our kids played really hard. We got deep in their territory four times and just couldn't capitalize. Lexington is a top ten team and showed they have a good team. I thought we played pretty good on defense especially in the second half. We only had to punt once we just came up short a couple times. We played good in the kicking game. We covered good and had good returns all night. We are going to have a lot of close games this year. We have to be ready for that."

Sul. Lex.
First Downs 12 12
Rushing, Att., Yds 37-148 42-351
Passing Yds 88 107
Total Yds 236 458
Passes Comp., Att 6-20 9-11
Interceptions by 0 2
No. Punts, Avg. 1-42 3-19
Fumbles, Lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties, Yds. 5-50 7-65

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(Lexington) Travelle Pelkey 65 run (Jamin Blanchard kick)
(Sulphur) Caleb Neal 5 run (Neal kick)
(Sulphur) Dylan Walker 3 run (Neal kick)
(Lexington) Kodey Tahsequah 1 run (Blanchard kick)
Second Quarter
(Lexington) Blanchard 25-yard field goal
(Sulphur) Neal 5 run (Neal kick)
(Lexington) Tahsequah 1 run (Blanchard kick)
Third Quarter
(Lexington) Pelkey 37 run (Blanchard kick)

Score by Quarters
Sulphur 14 7 0 0--21
Lexington 13 10 8 0--31

Sulphur Individuals

Rushing: Dylan Walker 14-52, Ty Williams 13-71, Caleb Neal 7-23, Taylor Graves 1-2.
Passing: Ty Williams 6-20, 88 yards, 2 interceptions.

Receiving: Neal 2-29 yards, Lesslie Stanford 2-35 yards. Walker 1-15 yards, Skyler Betterton 1-9 yards,

Lexington Individuals
Rushing: Pelkey 19-256, Dalton Duke 13-40, Tahsequah 9-18, Chad Forehand 1-4.
Passing: Pelkey 8-10, 104 yards.
Receiving: Blanchard 2-20, Others 6-84.