Bulldogs move to 4-0 on the season

For the second week in a row, the Empire Bulldogs put together dominant second halves to break open close games and cruise to wins over their opponents.

Last Friday, the Bulldogs made the three-hour bus ride to Wetumka and scored 30 unanswered points in the final two quarters on their way to a 36-0 shutout.

“It was a long trip, but we got it,” said Brant Hayes, head coach. “We come out and score on the first possession and then kind of just start going through the motions. We played with no enthusiasm. So, again, we had a nice little chitchat at halftime.”

It’s not like Hayes wants to be known for his halftime speeches.

“I was like, ‘You guys are making me look like I know what I’m doing when I get in there at halftime and I appreciate that, but I wish you would come out and get at from the beginning,” Hayes said with a laugh. “We would not have to do all this nonsense.”

Senior running back Kamdyn Whetstone continued his tear through opposing defenses, scoring four touchdowns in his second straight game. He has rushed for more than 500 yards in three games (not including a forfeit by Temple). He has 11 total touchdowns, 10 on offense and one on defense.

Against Wetumka he rushed for 215 yards on 31 carries with the four scores. 

“He’s a big back, he’s going to get caught from behind,” Hayes said. “I tell him every time he gets over 20 yards, I will take him out and give him a break. But, if he only goes for four or five yards, he’s got to stay in there for a while.”

And while Whetstone is crashing through opposing defenses, Empire’s defense is holding its own, especially keeping the Bulldogs in the game during their slow starts.

Empire has only given up 12 points all season with all 12 coming against Cyril.

“Defensively, we’re still rolling and playing really well,” Hayes said.  “I was thinking about that on the way home Friday night. We’re only up 6-0 at halftime and then we start rolling. But that’s what we went into the year wanting to do, put our best guys on defense and not let them score and then wear people down on offense. That’s what happened the past couple of weeks.”

Empire finished with 283 yards on the ground. Cale Porter and Nathan Menga were second on the team with 22 yards each. Krede Lindsey had 10 yards on six carries, and Bryce Shaver had one yard on three carries.

Shaver was 5-for-10 in passing for 42 yards with a touchdown. 

Cale Porter was on the receiving end of all those receptions, including the touchdown.

The Bulldogs are off this week before hosting Alex (3-1) next Friday in the final non-district game tune-up. 

“This week we’re just going back to the basics and working on conditioning,” Hayes said.