The Melbourne Bearkatz defense forced a three and out on Quitman’s opening drive on Friday night to give the Katz a very early opportunity to score first. Their drive stalled after a big opening pass completion from Wren to Wyatt Fowler due to penalties and a failed 4th down conversion attempt on the 15 yard line. The defense again stepped up for Katz highlighted by a pick 6 by Chayse Beene for the Bearkatz first points of the contest. The point after attempt was no good for a Bearkatz lead of 6-0. Quitman answered quickly with a 73 yard kickoff return to tie the score 6-6 after a failed two point conversion.
The Bearkatz recovered the on-side kick attempt by Quitman to begin their second offensive drive of the game at the 45 yard line. The Katz offense would not be denied on this drive. The drive was capped by a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Holden Hutchins and the 2-point conversion by Hutchins for a score of 14-6. Quitman quickly added another touchdown after several Bearkatz penalties gave the Bulldogs good field position. At the end of the first quarter the Bearkatz led 14-12. Before half-time the Katz added another rushing touchdown by Trey Wren and a successful point after attempt by Freshman Fernando Ventura for a score of 21-12. The Katz defense was unrelenting to the Quitman Bulldogs to force another three and out to start another scoring drive resulting in a touchdown pass from Wren to Carter Bray and the point after by Ventura for a score of 28-12 with 9 minutes remaining in the half. The Bulldogs next drive ended in the red zone with a failed 4 down conversion. The Bearkatz added 7 more points to the score on a Bray rushing touchdown and a Ventura extra point. At halftime the score was 35-12.
The Bearkatz defense held the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of contest recovering 2 fumbles, while the Bearkatz added 16 more on two touchdowns, one extra point, and a 27-yard field goal by Freshman Fernando Ventura. Carter Bray rushed for his second rushing touchdown of the game, Ventura added the extra point and Wren completed a 12 yard touchdown pass to Malachi Cruz, the extra point attempt failed leaving the score 48-12. In the fourth quarter, Ventura completed the 27-yard field goal to set the final score 51-12 for the Bearkatz.
Melbourne held Quitman to 156 total offensive yards while hammering out 471 offensive yards. Wren completed 13 of 18 attempts for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bray had 4 receptions for 75 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. Malachi Cruz had 4 receptions for 55 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. Melbourne rushed for 245 yards led by Holden Hutchins with 113, Wren 49, Bray 42, and Cruz 22.
The Bearkatz improve to 2-0 on the season.
