Blue Devils End Season With Tough Loss To The Aberdeen Bulldogs

WATER VALLEY – A heart-wrenching loss in the first round of playoff action ended the Blue Devil football season Friday night in a contest that went down to the wire. The Aberdeen Bulldogs (6-4) pulled out a 12 – 9 victory during a game that was symbolic of a hard-fought season with ups and downs.

The breaks were tough, a touchdown run that was called by on a holding call, and a missed field goal attempt in the waning seconds that could have sent the contest into overtime. The missed opportunities were reminiscent of tough losses earlier in the season like the game against 3A powerhouse Winona midway through the year that Water Valley could have taken control of. Or the loss against Kossuth in a game that brought evenly-matched teams to the field.

Aberdeen struck first with the only points in the opening half with a three-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter to go ahead by six. It would be almost another full quarter before the next strike when quarterback C.J. Telford connected with Jaden Morgan with a pass that flipped the field when the receiver was tackled in the red zone at the five-yard line. Jaden ran the ball in for the points. Kicker Jon Surrette tacked on the extra point and the Blue Devils had their first lead of the night, 7 – 6.

The next points came on the Blue Devils’ defensive effort as the Bulldogs were backed up at their one yard-line.  A sack in the endzone resulted in a safety and the Blue Devils were up by three, 9 – 6, with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Water Valley had the momentum and the lead before a turnover set up the Bulldogs for their second touchdown to go ahead, 12 – 9.

The Blue Devils were able to march down the field in their final possession, setting up the field goal attempt to tie up the game.  The snap was a little high and Surrette’s kick narrowly missed the uprights. The Blue Devils ended the season 6-4, a respectable stat for a respectable team.