DOVE CREEK – The Bulldog community showed up at the Soper Sports Complex Friday night, eager to welcome its football team for the first home game of the fall.
Mother Nature had other plans.
Facing New Mexico’s Escalante High School, Dove Creek battled through injuries, weather delays and a scoreboard deficit before nearly erasing a 22-point gap in the closing minutes – but ultimately falling 48-40 as a defensive battle became a shootout.
Head Coach Brennan Banks made his home debut with the varsity squad, adding another chapter to his Dove Creek football journey. Banks once played for the Bulldogs on the field now named for his legendary coach, Ken Soper. Aligned with Bulldog teams of years past, the tenacity and pursuit of the football carried over into Banks’ 2023 squad, despite a small roster.
Dove Creek (1-2) moved the ball effectively most of the night, especially after an hourlong halftime break, but five Bulldog turnovers proved too much to overcome. Junior Teagan Larimore scored three times, including twice in a frantic fourth-quarter rally that nearly erased a 42-20 deficit with nine minutes to play.
An athletic Lobos (3-1) squad struggled to move the ball between the hashes as seniors Trevan Ivie and Nicholas Aragon punished Escalante ball carriers, but the visitors struck with big plays on the edges, including two touchdowns of more than 75 yards in the first quarter to build a 14-0 lead. Dove Creek responded with a sustained drive late in the second quarter, with freshman quarterback Kycen Gritz connecting with Larimore for a 9-yard score to cut the deficit to 14-6.
The teams traded interceptions before the break, and just as players prepared to start the second half, lightning struck again, sending both squads back to their buses during another delay.
When play resumed, the game shifted. Tired defenses opened running lanes for both teams. Dove Creek scored quickly on its first possession, with junior Cael Beanland plunging in from a yard out to cap a 66-yard drive and tie it at 14.
Escalante answered less than three minutes later to retake the lead, but Dove Creek responded with its second passing touchdown – a perfectly weighted 18-yard pass from Beanland to senior Josh Kibel in stride to level the score.
Just as the game seemed destined to hinge on the final possession, Escalante broke serve. The Lobos scored on offense, then recovered a fumble for a scoop-and-score and returned a Bulldog punt 60 yards to blow the game open.
“It’s hard to win when you turn the ball over five times,” said Banks after the defeat, “but even with all of them, we were still able to make it a one-score game.”
Dove Creek battled for the full 48 minutes. Larimore rushed in from 13 and 47 yards out to cut the deficit to 48-32, then Beanland connected with Gritz on a 34-yard catch-and-run to bring the Bulldogs within one score with 30 seconds left. Needing to recover an onside kick to keep their hopes alive, the clock struck midnight – literally and figuratively – on Dove Creek’s five-hour slugfest as Escalante escaped with the win.
The Bulldogs proved they could move the ball both on the ground and through the air, posting their best offensive numbers of the season. Beanland and Gritz split time at quarterback, each contributing key intangibles to the offense, according to Banks.
“Cael’s got a good understanding of the offense, and Kycen’s not afraid of the moment – both of them made some big plays for us tonight,” said Banks.
“Our boys aren’t going to quit,” said Banks. “A few of them are playing through injuries – I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Dove Creek will have the week off to recover and prepare for the Border War against Monticello on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs will celebrate Homecoming week with hopes of evening their record at .500 before Mountain League play begins in October. The matchup against the Buckaroos will be broadcast on 98.7 FM KRTZ and streamed at krtzradio.com.
