First Posted: 1/15/2009

After a solid defensive performance, the Bulldogs needed only one more stop to pull an upset. Late in the fourth quarter, holding onto a 14-12 lead. The Bulldogs couldn’t come up with that stop, and fell to the 4-A Purnell Sweet Rams 20-12.
On Friday night St. Pauls was ready to battle the Rams of Purnell Swett, after an opening season loss at Lumberton, and St. Pauls’ defense had a stellar performance. The Bulldogs defense gave up only 120 yards on the ground, but its offense gained only 150 total yards and squandered several scoring chances. The St. Pauls fans were heart broken after the 20 to 14 defeat in the Bulldogs’ home opener.
On their second possession St. Pauls scored on an eight yard run by Tony Pone. Cedric Graham scored a two point conversion on a run with 4:47 in the 1st quarter taking the led 8 to 0.
The Rams could not move the ball on the ground against the hard hitting Bulldogs, so they regrouped to move the ball through the air. Ram’s quarterback Pat McCartney completed seven out of eighteen passes, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Effective passing would lead the Rams to score on a two yard run with 1:53 left in the 1st quarter.
Their two point conversion was no good
leaving the score 8 to 6 at the end of the 1st quarter. The Bulldog defense dominated the 2nd quarter. Reggie Thorpe started it off with an interception, scoring an 87 yard touchdown. The Dawgs’ attempt for the two point conversion was no good, but St. Pauls led 14 to 6 with 4:44 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing kick-off, Purnell Swett fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs pounced all over it, giving the offense the ball in good scoring position. This time the Rams’ defense held, causing St. Pauls to turn the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs had a chance to score on their next possession but a bad exchange between the quarterback and the running back let Purnell Swett recover the ball and stop a drive on the 35 yard line.
At halftime St. Pauls took a 14 to 6 lead.
Coach Setzer said, “I’m very proud of my team, we worked so hard out there tonight. Coach Willie George does a super job with his defense, but we’ve got to do a better job on scoring when the defense leaves us in good field position”.
In the 2nd half St. Pauls had the ball in the red zone twice, but came away with no points.
Swett’s defense would score next on a 60 yard interception of a pass by Davishio Shaw. The Rams’ two point conversion was yet again no good and St. Pauls led 14 to 12 with 1:16 left in the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th quarter, St. Pauls’ defense forced another turnover when V.J. Emanuel picked off another Ram pass, but the Bulldogs’ offense never could get going., giving the ball back. Swett would score the last touchdown on a 22 yard pass to Eric Miller. There were three St. Pauls defenders hanging around him, but he managed the catch that was the game winner. The Rams had a 20 to 14 led with 3:35 to go.
St. Pauls’ final chance to score ended when Davishio Shaw fumbled the ball with 1:24 left in the game leaving the Bulldogs and the home crowd disappointed.
Coach Setzer said, “I told the guys if they throw 10 fades and complete 2, you got to be happy with that.
The Bulldogs will travel to face the Pinecrest Patriots next week for yet another 2A-4A battle. St. Pauls JV’s played their first game this year and won 39 to 14. The Bulldogs are coach by Coach Philip
Tyler. Coach Tyler said “we were ready to play. I’m looking for big thing from us this year”. Tony Smith rush for about 180 yards. Coach Tyler said “that he also thought that his defense was a lot better than
his offense and was surprise in the way that they move the ball. JV will play home Thursday night against Pinecrest at 7pm.