Hollis takes control of district with win over Empire

 between Empire and Hollis for control of the District B-2 race last Thursday night. The Bulldogs could not overcome a disastrous first half, however, and the Tigers rang up a 38-12 win.

Turnovers and penalties by the Bulldogs allowed the home team to build a 22-0 halftime lead. The teams played evenly in the second half, but Empire was never able to get closer than 18 points.

The loss ended the Bulldogs’ undefeated season and snapped a seven-game winning streak. It also dropped them to third place in the district trailing Hollis and Waurika, both 3-0 in the district. Waurika and Empire will meet up in the season finale on Nov. 8 in Wauria.

Empire received the opening kickoff and drove down deep into Hollis territory to the 17-yard line.  A holding penalty backed the Bulldogs up and they were unable to recover, turning the ball over on downs at the 24-yard line.

The teams would trade punts leading to a scoreless first quarter before the Tigers got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Hollis running back Kreid McQueen capped off a 42-yard drive with a one-yard plunge at the 11:24 mark. McQueen had carried the ball six of the eight plays on the drive.

The teams would trade interceptions with Empire’s Christian Benitez grabbing Empire’s interception after it had deflected off of two other teammates’ hands. 

Empire would fumble the ball back, setting up the Tigers deep in Empire territory at the 8-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Matt Parker ran the ball in with 3:50 left in the half. The two-point conversion made it 14-0.

The Bulldogs looked to be in good shape following the kickoff and a penalty that gave them a first down at the Hollis 28. The Bulldogs were not able to captialize, however, and turned the ball over on downs. 

Hollis struck quickly, driving 79 yards in five plays capped off by a 41-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining until the half. 

The Bulldogs looked to have a momentum swing early in the third quarter when Cale Porter returned a fumble he caught in mid-air 40 yards for Empire’s first score of the night cutting the lead to 22-6.

The Tigers would answer right back, however, going on an 80-yard drive that pushed the lead to 30-6.

The Bulldogs responded with a 63-yard touchdown drive. On a fourth-and-3 play from the 15, quarterback Bryce Shaver connected with tight end Chase Kaspereit for the touchdown. The score cut the lead to 30-12 with 1:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Hollis would put the game away on their next possession, however. The Tigers went on a long, time-consuming drive that chewed up more than half of the fourth quarter before Parler scored his second touchdown of the night on a one-yard run.

Empire (7-1 overall, 2-1 district) will host Central High in the Bulldogs’ final regular season home game this Friday.