FOOTBALL: Bulldogs lose another shootout, this time at BNL in double OT

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

BEDFORD – Friday night at Stars Field, New Albany lost a shootout on the road for the second time this season.

Class 5A No. 9 Bedford North Lawrence rallied from a 28-14 deficit in the third quarter to edge the Bulldogs in double overtime 42-41. In Week 2, New Albany (2-2, 1-1 Hoosier Hills Conference) suffered a 56-49 setback at Class 5A No. 6 Castle.

The Bulldogs grabbed the 14-point, third-quarter lead at the 10:37 mark on an 8-yard touchdown run by senior running back Darquan Richardson.

But the Stars (4-0, 2-0) scored two touchdowns in the fourth to tie the game at 28. The first TD was a 30-yard run by junior quarterback McCall Ray with 8:16 remaining. BNL deadlocked the game with 37.4 seconds left when Ray connected with junior wide receiver Drew Shoufler on a 19-yard touchdown pass.

The Stars grabbed a 35-28 advantage in the first overtime when junior back Wyatt Martin made a 7-yard TD scamper. New Albany answered later in the extra period with a 1-yard TD reception by Austin Oppel from quarterback Dylan Clark to tie the score at 35.

In the second OT, Richardson snagged a 2-yard TD catch from Clark to put the Bulldogs up 41-35. But the lead stayed at six points when New Albany place-kicker Noah Litzelswope missed the extra-point kick.

Martin deadlocked the game at 41 later in the second overtime with a 1-yard TD run. That was followed by Stars kicker Esteban Flores converting his extra-point attempt for the game-winner.

Richardson rushed the ball 45 times for a game-high 210 yards. He scored five touchdowns, four coming on the ground. Clark was 7-of-11 passing for 75 yards and one interception. Oppel had four receptions for 69 yards.

Ray completed 12-of-19 passes for 117 yards and one interception. He also ran the ball times 22 times for 76 yards.

The Bulldogs will travel to HHC foe and Class 5A No. 4 Columbus East (3-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. next Friday.

BEDFORD NL 42, NEW ALBANY 41, 2OT

New Albany           7 14 7   0 7 6-41

Bedford NL           7   7 0 14 7 7-42

First quarter

BNL – McCall Ray 6 run (Esteban Flores kick), 9:43.

NA – Darquan Richardson 5 run (Noah Litzelswope kick), 6:17.

Second quarter

NA – Richardson 1 run (Litzelswope kick), 11:12.

NA – Richardson 4 run (Litzelswope kick), 5:15.

BNL – Skyler Bates 7 pass from Ray (Flores kick), 1:24.

Third quarter

NA – Richardson 8 run (Litzelswope kick), 10:37.

Fourth quarter

BNL – Ray 30 run (Flores kick), 8:16.

BNL – Drew Shoufler 19 pass from Ray (Flores kick), :37.4.

First overtime

BNL – Wyatt Martin 7 run (Flores kick).

NA – Austin Oppel 1 pass from Dylan Clark (Litzelswope kick).

Second overtime

NA – Richardson 2 pass from Clark (kick failed).

BNL – Martin 1 run (Flores kick).