DECATUR — Mountainburg was looking for its first win of the season on Friday night at Bulldog Stadium
It needed a fast start and sophomore running back Samuel Copeland provided it.
Copeland scampered around the right side of the Decatur defense for 16 yards to put the Dragons on the scoreboard on their opening drive, and they never looked back as they went on to win 20-0.
Copeland finished with 53 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, and along with fellow running back Clayton Stephenson, who recorded 34 yards on 14 carries propelled Mountainburg (1-2) to its first win of the season.
“Both of them run hard, both of them are sophomores” said Mountainburg coach Tom Harrell “It is a good one-two punch and gives the defense something else to look out for.”
Running back isn’t the only one-two punch that the Dragons displayed on Friday night. They rotated out at quarterback with Trey Allen and Josh Skattebo. Both Skattebo and Allen, were effective against the Bulldogs defense. Allen was the Dragons’ leading rusher with 56 yards and a touchdown, and Skattebo wasn’t far behind with 53 yards and a touchdown.
“Which ever one of these guys I think can get the job done, that is the one I am going to go with.” Coach Harrell said “Josh is a load to handle when he runs, and Trey is quicker on the outside, so from this point forward we will use both of them.”
Mountainburg’s defense held up extremely well against a banged up Bulldogs football team, which lost starting quarterback Victor Urquidi before the season. Sophomore Meng Vang was left with the task of moving the Bulldog offense. Vang was held with out a completion until his 15th pass attempt of the night was caught by junior wideout Mario Urquidi.
“Offensively we were totally inept tonight,” Decatur coach Shane Holland said “Meng is just a sophomore and he is going to make his mistakes, but he wasn’t the only one tonight.”
EXTRA POINTS
w It was Homecoming for Decatur and Offensive Lineman Matt Lee was named Homecoming King along with Brittany Frost as Homecoming Queen.
w The Mountainburg defense held Decatur to only five passing yards
w Both Mountainburg quarterbacks had more than 50 rushing yards and a touchdown, both touchdowns coming on 1-yard runs.
HOW THEY SCORED
MOUNTAINBURG 20,
DECATUR 0
Mountainburg^7^7^0^6^—^20
Decatur^0^0^0^0^—^0
First Quarter
Mount — Copeland 16 run (Skattebo kick ), 7:55,
Second Quarter
Mount — Allen 1 run (Skattebo kick), 11:47.
Fourth Quarter
Mount — Skattebo 1 run (kick failed), 3:57,