Win over Sunset ends 26-game losing streak

January 23, 2010

North Dallas High School Booster Club


BULLDOGS ROLL 40-14

By Gary Piña

Win over Sunset ends 26-game losing streak 

    North Dallas HS scored three touchdowns with four minutes left before halftime en route to a 40-14 victory over Sunset in a nondistrict game Friday night at Franklin Field. 
    The victory snapped a 26-game losing streak for the Bulldogs. Their last victory was on Sept. 22, 2006, when they defeated Parish Episcopal, 20-14.
    North Dallas went 2-8 in 2006. Since then, North Dallas has gone through consecutive 0-10 seasons in 2007 and 2008. 
   Coach Meredith Hamilton said he was glad to finally get that streak off their back. He said there were games when they felt had the better team but the team didn't know how to win.

   "We started slow, made some silly mistakes," he said. "Then we started to play. Down 7-6 with four minutes left, the light clicked and we never turned back.

   "Overall, it was a huge win for the school."

  The Bulldogs were led by junior running back Geremy Aldridge, who rushed for 120 yards, scored four touchdowns and converted two 2-point conversions. Last season, Aldridge rushed for more than 1,000 yards. 

    Quarterback Ladedrick Washington added 112 yards rushing and one touchdown, and completed 6 of 10 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Marquis Johnson caught four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

   Sunset led 7-0 after the first quarter. On one drive, the Bisons had two 40-yard touchdown runs called back because of penalties. 

   After Sunset turned the ball over on downs, the Bulldogs marched 71 yards on 10 plays, with Aldridge scoring on a 2-year run.

   Sunset fumbled on their next possession and the Bulldogs took over at the Sunset 28-yard line. Then they drove 28 yards on five plays with Aldridge scoring on a 4-yard run. The two-point conversion failed and ND led 12-7.

   Hamilton said linebacker Obed Lara's fumble recovery was a key play in turning the game around for North Dallas. 

   A bad Sunset punt gave ND the ball at the Sunset 30. Then Washington hit Marquis Johnson on a 30-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed again, and ND led 18-7.

   Sunset fumbled on the kickoff return, and the Bulldogs recovered with 12 seconds left before halftime. With one second left, Aldridge scored on a 4-yard screen play from Washington. Aldridge converted the two-point conversion to give ND a 26-7 lead at halftime.

   "We knew they would be coming, so we ran the screen play," Hamilton said.

   Aldridge scored on a 69-yard run in the third quarter, and Washington scored on a 25-yard run in the fourth quarter. 

   Hamilton said he was especially proud of the defense and attributes that to coach Pierson, who is new to the school. "He has been a huge difference for us," Hamilton said.

 

 

Game notes

   Coach Hamilton said quarterback Ladedrick Washington was the offensive player of the game and linebacker Obed Lara was the defensive player of the game. Lara had three fumbles recoveries, seven tackles and 11 assists. ... Hamilton said the team just added a soccer player this week to take care of the field-goal duties but had not worked with him on field-goal situations. 

   Hamilton  said Lara missed most of two-a-days, and had only practiced with the team for about a week. "He played lights out," Hamilton said of his performance Friday night. 

   While Aldridge scored four touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards, Hamilton said he played both ways, and "he played his heart out on defense." 

   The JV team also defeated the Sunset JV.