Dresden Shakes Off Rust to Down Bulldogs Stephanie Sturgis - Weakley County Press Sports Editor Posted: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 Block — Dresden’s Gatlin Hatchel (center) blocks Bulldog David Spellings to free teammate Devin Raymer for a big gain in the Lions’ 34-16 win over Gleason. Photo by Stephanie Sturgis After a week layoff, the Dresden Lions needed a quarter to get back in the winning groove. The Lions scored 20 points in a span of less than five minutes to take command in the second quarter of their 34-16 win over the host Gleason  Bulldogs on Friday night in Gleason. “They (Gleason) played well. We haven’t been gouged like that since the McKenzie game,” Dresden head coach Scott Hewett said of Gleason effort. When prompted to say some good things about his own team, Hewett smiled, “We’re gonna be in the playoffs.” Dresden (8-2, 3-2) has advanced to the TSSAA playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season. The Lions will host the Forrest Rockets (6-4) with kickoff at 7 on Friday night at Rotary Field. Gleason threatened to score first, using a mix of powerful runs by James Owen and sweeps by Dalton Teeter, Gleason marched from its own 25 to the Lion 11. A 47-yard Teeter run was the big gain. Both ran for over 100 yards in the game. However, the drive stalled and Teeter was tripped in the backfield by Eric VanDyke on fourth down, to give the ball to DHS. The teams traded punts before Dresden began its first scoring push. Starting at their own 48, the Lions called repeatedly upon sophomore Devin Raymer. The running back carried three times for 23 yards in the first four plays. The fifth play was a shovel pass to Raymer from QB Dale Hutcherson that covered 27 yards to paydirt. Colin Kanehl’s PAT kick missed, but he later hit his two other tries. With 31 ticks to play in the first quarter, Dresden held a 6-0 advantage. Gleason’s ensuing drive went backwards with two slips in the backfield and a sack of Conner Verdell by Codie Greeson. Verdell had to punt out of his end zone, and though he booted the ball 37 yards, Dresden still had great field position, starting at its own 45 after a penalty on the return. A chop block penalty against the Lions pushed them further back. Facing third-and-28 from their own 27, a screen pass to Colin Kanehl turned into a huge 73-yard touchdown toss, doubling the Lion lead to 12-0 and frustrating the Bulldogs. Gleason did keep the Lions out of the end zone on the two-pointer. Now trailing 12-0 with 9:16 to play in the first half, the Bulldogs increased their misery by fumbling the first handoff of their next drive. Tyler McPeak recovered for Dresden at the GHS 29. Three plays later, Raymer ran through the left side of the line and through Dawg tacklers for a 20-yard scoring scamper. Hutcherson ran in the two-pointer for a 20-0 lead with 8:07 remaining in the second quarter. Twice more Gleason threatened before halftime, but a fumbled pitch on fourth down at the 29 and an interception by Brandon Elliott in the end zone on another fourth down play from the 9 preserved Dresden’s 20-0 lead at the half. Gleason gambled on its first drive of the third, going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Dawgs’ own 35. Blake Taylor was stuffed by McPeak Tyler Hawks and Jacob Cobb, giving Dresden possession at the 33. After a 24-yard pass to Gatlin Hatchel, Hutcherson took the scoring honors with a nine-yard run over the goal line. Kanehl’s kick boosted the Dresden lead to 27-0 with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter. Even after the Lions built their lead to 27-0 early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs didn’t quit. Gleason head coach Noah Lampkins opened up his playbook and went to the air via Verdell’s arm and also used his legs. Verdell intercepted a Hutcherson pass to end the second Dresden drive of the third and promptly found Nick Poore open behind the DHS defense for a 49-yard gain on the first Gleason snap. Verdell kept the ball for run of 15 and 10 yards before putting Gleason on the board with a pretty pass to Austin Perry in the end zone. Owen ran in the two-pointer to cut Dresden’s lead to 27-8 with 3:36 left in the third frame. The Dawgs again gambled with an onside kick and the play worked as Poore recovered for GHS at the Lion 48. Hatchel ended the drive with an interception late in the third. Hutcherson scored on a six-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 34-8 lead. The Dawgs continued to show their grit adding an Owen 10-yard TD run with 2:48 to play in the game. Teeter ran in the two-pointer to close scoring in the 34-16 Dresden win. Gleason seniors playing their final game in a Bulldog football uniform were Nick Poore, Dalton Teeter, Hunter Morse, James Owen, Jordan Howington and Corey Priest. A Step at a Time is the Motto for Recovering Gleason Teen By KENNETH COKER, Messenger Sports Reporter Posted: Thursday, October 28, 2010 Gleason football player Drake Damesworth is taking it one step at a time. The freshman, who suffered a broken neck during a game on Sept. 17 at McKenzie, is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation therapy at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Though initially it was unknown if the 14-year-old would ever walk again in the immediate hours after his injury, his progress over the past month — following two neck surgeries — has left his family and friends hopeful. According to his mother, Andrea, he is currently capable of taking steps down the hallway with the assistance of spotters on each side and a walker. Drake has also recently made the change from a motorized wheelchair into a manual one. He is currently set to be discharged in mid-November into a nearby apartment as part of TSC’s day program — where patients adjust to life without hourly care, but still return to the hospital for daily therapy. The Damesworth family is also talking of a brief return home for Thanksgiving. “I know God answers prayers,” said Mrs. Damesworth, who has stayed in Atlanta with her husband Allan throughout the ordeal. “All I’ve asked for since this happened is for everyone to pray for us to get through this. “Each day, there’s a little sign that the prayers are being answered. Two weeks ago, Drake couldn’t move his big toe. Now he can bend his leg. It’s just a blessing and we know God is listening.” Just to get to this point, Drake has put in, on average, seven hours a day of therapy. The sessions include therapy of the occupational type — relearning to do life’s daily tasks that most take for granted — and those of the physical nature. “He’s having to relearn to walk and his right side is really weak now,” Mrs. Damesworth said. “As his mother, it’s awkward to watch. I’m teary-eyed with each step he takes because it’s such a struggle for him.” That said, there have been some comforting moments for the Damesworth family during their stay in a strange city hundreds of miles away. Recently, she was visited by Connie Hopper, an Obion County resident whose daughter Holly is also getting treatment at the Atlanta facility after a car accident in Martin. “When she said I’m from Union City, my heart nearly flipped out of my chest,” Mrs. Damesworth said. “We’re so far away from home that you start to feel alone. I mean our neighbors down the hall are from Chattanooga. That’s just an hour away. “Now at least, I have a new friend from close to home. Hopefully, we can lean on each other when we got homesick.” It is also worth noting that Drake’s spirits were lifted when members of the Atlanta Falcons’ NFL football team stopped by to visit the patients. The young Weakley Countian got to meet and obtain the autographs of Atlanta players Michael Turner, John Parker Wilson, William Moore and Ovie Mughelli, along with cheerleaders Jordan Olinger and Margaret Moseley. He must have made an impression on Moseley as she recognized him by name at an area restaurant the following night and chatted with his family for about 10 minutes despite being out with her boyfriend. Those wishing to send well wishes to Drake can drop a card in the mail c/o The Shepherd Center, Room 429, 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. There is also a Facebook page for the young man entitled “Praying for Drake Damesworth.” Additionally, Mrs. Damesworth noted that cards of encouragement can be sent to Holly Hopper c/o The Shepherd Center, The Shepherd Center, Room 412, 2020 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Sports reporter Kenneth Coker can be contacted by e-mail at kcoker@ucmessenger.com.   Bulldogs ‘Rose’ Above Flags, Host Scotts Hill Sara Rachels — Special to the Weakley County Pres Posted: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 It takes more than two — A pair of Scotts Hill defenders try to bring down Bulldog fullback James Owen (right) during Gleason’s big win over the host Lions on Friday night. Owen rushed for 104 yards in the 39-3 win. Photo by Sara Rachels Everything was coming up roses for Gleason. For good and bad. The Bulldogs rushed for 292 yards, passed for 128 yards and held the opponent to just 108 total yards and five first downs on the way to a 39-3 victory over Scotts Hill, but the rosy-pink breast cancer awareness flags the referees used instead of the normal yellow ones flew the Bulldogs’ way all night. Fifteen times, in fact. On the other hand, the Lions netted just two penalties for the contest, yet couldn’t take advantage of the extra 135 yards Gleason retreated due to penalty enforcement. Reaching the red zone twice, Scotts Hill missed a 32-yard field goal, but made a 28-yard kick late in the game. The Lions opened on offense. Primarily relying on a passing attack all night and all season, quarterback Gatlin Ivey immediately lined up in the shotgun, but his pass was picked off by a leaping Chase Ezell. With the Dawgs on offense, Ezell, a freshman, took a handoff two yards, but the refs tossed the flag on the next play for holding. Backed up to the Lion 40, James Owen ran five yards up the middle, Ian Legens gained three on a sweep and Conner Verdell wrapped up the package with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Austin Perry. Verdell’s PAT kick sailed wide left, but Gleason took a 6-0 lead with 9:25 left in the first quarter. Scotts Hill’s second try on offense resulted in a quick punt and the Bulldogs took over on their own 34. The running combination of Dalton Teeter and Owen pushed the Dawgs to the Lion 36. Verdell found Perry for a seven-yard reception, David Spellings recorded five on a run, Owen gained six and Spellings found a weak spot on the left side and ran 11 yards down to the one. Owen punched it in to double the lead. The conversion failed and Gleason led 12-0 with 4:25 left in the opening frame. Scotts Hill picked up its first first down of the contest on a 12-yard Wyatt Cox run, but faked a punt and lost possession at midfield. Into the second quarter, Spellings ran the ball twice for 17 yards, Owen gained eight on a handoff, Teeter exposed the weak left side again for 11 and Blake Taylor picked up the one-yard touchdown. Verdell’s kick made the score 19-0 with 10:21 left in the first half. As a bright spot for Scotts Hill, Caston Maners returned the kickoff 62 yards to the Gleason 18, but the Lions stalled on the 15 and Justin Morris’s field goal attempt fell short. Gleason then proceeded to put together the longest drive of the game, starting on the 15, and, though five flags were thrown, Verdell eventually completed a 15-yard pass to Taylor for the score. The PAT made the total 26-0 at the break. On Gleason’s first series of the second half, the Lions were flagged for the first time in the game and Legens led the way with three carries for 17 yards and a one-yard touchdown run. Verdell’s kick made the score 33-0 with 8:59 left in the third. Another picked-off pass from Spellings led to a four-yard dash to the end zone by Teeter and even though Verdell’s kick missed the uprights, the Dawgs took a solid 39-0 lead and the clock ran. Aided by an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on Gleason, the Lions eventually made a 28-yard field goal off the leg of Morris, but the Bulldogs left Henderson County victorious in a big way, 39-3. Owen led the way on the ground with 104 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Spellings had 78 yards on seven carries, Teeter finished with 66 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Verdell was eight of 12 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Gleason will close out its season by hosting Dresden with kickoff at 7 Friday night Tailgate for Drake Posted: Thursday, October 14, 2010 Tailgate For Drake — Christi Clark (center) and Amy Reed helped serve meals during the Tailgate for Drake event last Friday night prior to the Gleason Bulldogs football game. Proceeds from the event went to the Drake Damesworth Fund. The fund was created to benefit Damesworth, a Gleason freshman football player who suffered a severe neck injury during a game on Sept. 17. Damesworth has been through multiple surgeries and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Atlanta. Donations to the Drake Damesworth Fund can be made at the Bank of Gleason. Photo by Stephanie Sturgis   Dawgs’ Big Fourth Quarter Brings Down G’field Stephanie Sturgis - Weakley County Press Sports Editor Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 5:51 pm Up for Grabs — Gleason’s David Spellings (front) and Conner Verdell keep an eye on a tipped pass while intended Yellowjacket receiver Steven Sawyers (left) and Blake Taylor try to get in position in the Dawgs’ 40-26 win over Greenfield. The Gleason Bulldogs were the last team standing when a fast-and-furious fourth quarter came to a close Friday night at Parks Edwards Field in Tater Town. The Bulldogs held on for a wild 40-26 win over their visiting rivals — the Greenfield Yellowjackets — in non-district action. During the fourth quarter, the teams combined for five touchdowns. The schools combined for four trips to paydirt and 28 points in the first 2:16 of the final frame. “We came out here and stepped it up tonight. We hadn’t played like that all year. It was a pretty physical brand of football,” a pleased Dawg head coach Noah Lampkins said. “I thought my guys showed a lot of heart — never gave up. We went down 14 and came right back and scored on the next play and thought we were right where we needed to be. Then they bust a big play and answer. It was a game of big plays,” Greenfield head coach Jason Rodehaver said. The win improves Gleason’s overall record to 3-4, while the Jackets drop to 2-5 on the season. When the third quarter ended, the host Bulldogs, clinging to a 20-14 edge, were driving to add to their lead. On the first play of the fourth, Gleason eighth-grader Ian Legens scored his first high school touchdown, taking a pitch six yards around the end for the score. On the two-point try, Conner Verdell’s aerial, intended for Gabe Lowrance, fell to the turf, leaving the Gleason lead at 26-14 with 11:55 to play in the game. While the fourth quarter was filled with big plays and quick strikes, Legens’ touchdown actually capped a 14-play, 74-yard march that ate 6:08 off the clock. Jacket Steven Sawyers fielded the short kickoff and returned it to the G’field 44. On second down, Sawyers had the big play, catching a Dalton Potts pass in the flat, breaking tackles and racing 40 yards to the 10 before being hauled down. On third down, Potts found Tyler Jones open. Jones, who battled injuries in the second half, made a diving catch in the end zone to haul in the touchdown pass. Zach Grebe, who split the uprights on his first two PAT kicks, kicked wide after the Jones catch, leaving Gleason’s lead at 26-20 with 10:22 still to play. With the Jacket sideline still celebrating, the Dawgs struck quickly to erase that emotional lift. Gleason’s Dalton Teeter gave his team excellent field position with a 35-yard kickoff return to the Dawg 44. On the first snap, Teeter took the handoff around the end, slipped through a tackle and raced 56 yards to paydirt. On the two-point try, Verdell ran a bootleg to boost Gleason’s lead to 34-20 with 10:04 remaining. “It seemed like on a lot of their runs, our first guy would never bring them down. That’s a tribute to them. They played, probably, a little bit harder than we did at times,” Rodehaver said of the second-effort plays the Dawgs used in their triumph over his Jackets. The Jackets didn’t hang their collective heads after the Teeter TD. G’field used a big play of its own to get right back into the contest. Another short kickoff let the Jackets start  at their own 44-yard line. Potts found his favorite target Jones open in the flat and the senior blazed a trail 56 yards to the end zone. Grebe was again wide with his kick, leaving the Gleason lead at 34-26 with 9:44 left. The hectic scoring pace was about to come to a screeching halt as Lampkins utilized his big fullback James Owen to gain yards and eat time off the clock. The Dawgs put together another lengthy scoring drive, covering the 61 yards in 12 plays over a span of 6:24. Owen ran the ball five times, bulldozing his way for 27 total yards. Mixed in with Owen runs were sweeps to Teeter or Legens to keep the Jackets from packing the middle. Gleason moved the chains five times with Teeter capping the march with a one-yard TD run. Verdell’s kick was blocked for a 40-26 score with 3:20 still to play. “James Owen was just running like a horse,” Lampkins praised. “Teeter, we’ve been trying to get it out of him all year. He really stepped it up tonight. I’m super proud of him.”  Owen ran for 187 yards and two TDs on 24 carries, while Teeter finished with 167 yards and three scores on 17 rushes. The Jackets threatened once more. Potts hit Jones for passes of 11 and 17 yards. Kadeem McDonald caught an 8-yard pass. From the 18, Potts tried to pass to Sawyers into triple coverage at the goal line. The pass was tipped and Verdell picked it out of the air to finally squash the Jackets’ rally hopes. The game began with Greenfield taking the lead on the opening drive. A 12-yard reverse run by Brady Medling and 26-yard catch by Jones set up a one-yard plunge by McDonald for a 7-0 lead with 6:32 left in the first frame. Gleason answered, twice overcoming holding flags. A 12-yard Teeter run and a Verdell pass to David Spelling for 14 yards converted two long third downs. Teeter finished it with a 26-yard TD run. Verdell’s kick was blocked to keep Greenfield ahead, 7-6, with 25 ticks left in the first quarter. The Jackets replied with a 12-play, 57-yard drive aided by two Gleason pass interference penalties. Sawyers caught an 8-yard TD pass from Potts for a 14-6 lead at the 8:29 mark of the second quarter. Then Gleason’s 14-play, 62-yard scoring drive ended with Owen fighting one yard to cross the goal line. An incompletion on the conversion try left G’field in front 14-12 at halftime. Owen had the only score of the third frame, rumbling 28 yards to paydirt. Teeter added the two-pointer for a 20-14 score to set up the fourth-quarter drama.

Junior Bulldogs Manage to Hold off Dresden in Finale

Sara Rachels — Special to the Weakley County Pres
Posted: Friday, October 8, 2010

The Dresden Junior Lions stood as the last test of the regular season for Gleason and after the clock ran out, the Junior Dawgs maintained their grip on a nearly perfect season.

Joey Smith again provided the fireworks for the Lions on the ground, but the big three of Ian Legens, Chris Copeland and Tracy Perry proved to be too much for Dresden to handle in the end and Gleason held on to record a 30-22 victory this past Thursday night in Gleason.

The visitors had possession to start the game and Quincey McDonald was stopped in the backfield for a two-yard loss on first down. Smith had 10 yards on two carries and Tyler Hutcherson snuck in for the first down on a fourth-and-two situation. On first down, McDonald gained a yard, but Kyle Williams fumbled the handoff back to Gleason.

Copeland found a hole up the middle and netted 17 yards. Legens followed with a 15-yard carry. Copeland was wrapped up for a two-yard gain and Legens was contained for four yards on a pair of carries. On fourth-and-two, it was quarterback Hunter Corum’s turn to nab the first with a keeper. Copeland finished off the drive with a 14-yard sweep and dive into the end zone. He added the conversion and Gleason led 8-0 with 2:07 left in the first quarter.

At the Dawg 42, Smith was wrapped up by Clay Cosby on a handoff. Gleason was flagged for holding on the next play and down at the 27, Smith gained three. Dillon Jolley plowed up the middle and carried a few Bulldogs with him for 16 yards and Smith ran in the final eight for the touchdown. Jolley added the conversion and the contest was tied, 8-8, at the end of the opening quarter.

Starting on their own 41 in the second, the Bulldogs went to the running combination of Copeland and Legens and the result was short, steady gains, five first downs and a six-yard touchdown carry from Perry. Legens ran in the conversion and the Bulldogs took a 16-8 lead with 3:06 left before the half.

At the Dresden 41, Jolley gained 20 yards on two carries and Smith took a handoff 39 yards down the left sideline for the score. On a critical play, Jolley was stopped on the conversion and Gleason maintained a 16-14 edge with 2:08 left in the second quarter.

The Dawgs were flagged with an illegal procedure charge and backed up to the Gleason 31. Corum misfired to Legens, but Copeland scrambled for 20 and a first down. Legens finished off the series by himself with two runs for 24 yards, a reception for 14 and an 11-yard sweep to the end zone. Perry added the two points and Gleason increased its lead, 24-14, at the half.

In the third, Gleason started the quarter on its own 30 and gained five on a Corum keeper. Perry picked up six up the middle and Corum got six more on a sneak. Copeland broke free for 16, but Legens was pulled back seven yards. Perry and Copeland quickly made up the difference on carries of eight and 12 yards, respectively. Perry gained five before Legens ran 30 yards untouched for the touchdown. Copeland was stopped on the conversion, but the home team increased the lead to 30-14 with 2:57 left in the third.

On Dresden’s first play of the third, McDonald took a handoff 61 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty negated the six. The Lions got the ball back at the 30, but, on a rare miscue, Smith fumbled the ball back to Gleason.

Holding onto possession through the start of the fourth, Gleason eventually turned the ball over on downs.

All the way back at their own 13, the Lions gained 17 from Jolley. Smith scrambled for two, but Jolley was pulled back five. On third-and-long, Hutcherson found Williams for a 73-yard touchdown pass. McDonald added the conversion and the Lions cut the lead to 30-22 with 2:08 left to play.

With little time to play and needing possession, Dresden tried an onside kick. The Dawgs were ready as Copeland recovered the short kick. Gleason held onto possession to take the 30-22 victory and finish up with a one-loss season.

Legens led the Dawgs with 189 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Copeland had 123 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and Perry finished with 37 yards and one touchdown on seven carries.
For Dresden, Smith had 98 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Hutcherson was 2-for-2 passing with 95 yards and a score.

The Lions will close out their regular season tonight (Thursday) when they entertain Henry as their homecoming foe. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Gleason’s Struggles to Convert After TDs Prove Costly

Sara Rachels — Special to the Weakley County Pres
Posted: Tuesday, October 5, 2010

What began an offensive shootout in the first half of the Gleason Bulldogs’ visit to Bruceton to take on the host Tigers turned into a defensive struggle over the final two quarters. The deciding factor proved to be conversions after touchdowns.

This past Friday night, the District 13-A opponents met up in Carroll County and with all the points scored in the first half, Bruceton put together a two-game winning streak while Gleason dropped its third straight, 20-19. It marked the second time this season the Bulldogs’ deficit would have been covered by a conversion. Gleason lost to West Carroll, 20-18, in Week 2.

Gleason opened at the 35 and James Owen plowed up the middle for three yards. Dalton Teeter fell down three yards deep on a sweep play, but Conner Verdell turned a broken play from nothing into something with a 65-yard run down the right sideline and into the end zone. Verdell’s kick leaned to the right, but the Dawgs took a 6-0 lead with 10:36 left in the opening quarter.

In an attempt to keep its momentum going, the Bulldogs tried an onside kick and Zach Mileski recovered the ball, but Verdell fumbled back to the home team.

On the Tiger 45, Chandler Jordan took a handoff nine yards into Bulldog territory and Hayden Howell got the first down with a two-yard sneak. Jordan netted 29 yards on a pair of carries, Bishop Haynes took a handoff five yards and Jordan topped it off with a 10-yard run for Bruceton’s first score. Logan Batte’s kick was blocked and the game was tied, 6-6, with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter.

On the Gleason 35, Teeter was contained on a sweep for a single yard and Owen gained two up the middle. Verdell connected with Nick Poore for a 35-yard reception that put the Bulldogs at the Tiger 27. Teeter picked up two on a carry and David Spellings broke free for 13, but Gleason’s momentum slowed with a false start penalty. Owen gained five up the middle, Teeter swept right for three, Owen was good for seven and Spellings punched in the two-yard touchdown. Verdell’s kick made the score 13-6 in favor of the visitors with 2:31 left in the opening quarter.

The home team turned the ball over on downs on its next series, but Gleason was forced to punt.

Jammed deep in their own territory at the 3-yard line, the Tigers gained two on a Howell keeper to the five, but Jordan found a huge hole and sprinted down the left sideline and outran everyone for the 95-yard touchdown. The crucial two-point conversion run from Haynes put the home team up 14-13 with 10:14 left in the half.

Taking the ball at the Tiger 39, Spellings gained 37 yards on three carries. On the two, the Tigers were flagged for jumping offsides. Owen was stuffed at the line on his first attempt, but broke through on his second for the one-yard touchdown run. Blake Taylor was stopped on his conversion try, but Gleason regained the lead, 19-14, with 7:35 left in the half.

Bruceton started its next drive on its own 29. Haynes gained three up the middle and Jordan swept around the right for 20. Haynes’ next two carries netted three, a Howell pass to Haden Williams picked up 16 and the next three Tiger carries gained two each. On the Gleason 23, Central was twice flagged with false start penalties, but on fourth-and-long, Howell threw up a prayer and had it answered with a Jordan catch 34 yards downfield in the end zone. Batte’s kick missed the mark, but Central regained the lead, 20-19, with 2:35 left in the first half.

This would eventually become the final score, but both squads spent the duration of the second half trying to add to it. Punts and turnovers on downs dictated the tempo, but Gleason had a rare opportunity to score at the start of the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-three at the five, however, Haynes sacked Verdell for a 12-yard loss and neither team came close to the end zone again as the Tigers held on to win by one, 20-19.

Gleason and Bruceton are now 1-2 in District 13-A with Bruceton taking a 3-3 overall record and Gleason falling to 2-4.

Jordan had 221 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He also had a 34-yard touchdown reception. Spellings led Gleason with 71 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Gleason will try to pick up a non-district win when it entertains rival Greenfield on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 that evening. 

Bulldogs Lose More Than a Game

Stephanie Sturgis - Weakley County Press Sports Editor
Posted: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 8:14 pm

DAMESWORTH

While the final score is why fans came to the Gleason Bulldogs’ game at McKenzie on Friday night, when they left all anyone had on his or her mind was GHS freshman lineman Drake Damesworth.

Damesworth was taken off the field in an ambulance in the fourth quarter of McKenzie’s 46-0 home win over Gleason.

An awkward landing while making a tackle resulted in a fractured vertebrae in his neck. Play was stopped for 16 minutes while athletic trainers from both teams tended to Damesworth. The ambulance was summoned and transported him to a local hospital. From there, the freshman was flown to Le Bonheur in Memphis where he had successful surgery on Saturday morning.

Gleason head coach Noah Lampkins did not return a phone call on Monday morning. Gleason's Athletic Director Lee Lawrence opted not to comment on the injury Monday afternoon. Later in the day Monday, Weakley County Director of Schools Randy Frazier stated in a press release he was extremely thankful Damesworth was aided by timely medical assistance.

“While we certainly wish this injury hadn’t occurred, we need to recognize that the quick response of those on the field, the athletic trainers who were on hand and especially the actions of the paramedics who responded to the scene, seem to have resulted in the appropriate actions being taken to ensure this young man’s access to in-depth medical care was achieved.  Our thoughts go out to both he and his family for a speedy recovery.”

In the game, the Rebels dominated start to finish. “They’re a very good team, and we’re not very good,” Lampkins said immediately after the loss.

Gleason picked up two first downs on its opening drive — one via a 14-yard completion from Conner Verdell to Nick Poore and the other on a MHS penalty — before punting.
The Rebels needed one play — a 68-yard bomb from Max Arnold to speedy receiver Richie Clark — to take the lead. Arnold booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

A long Arnold punt return set up the second score — a 14-yard Matt Eaton run. Matt Thomas added a 3-yard touchdown run for a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Arnold had a 68-yard punt return for a TD and added two touchdown passes to Kirby Esch. Junior Chavez ran three yards for the last MHS TD.

MHS led 34-0 at halftime and 40-0 after three frames.
The loss drops Gleason's record to 0-2 against District 13-A competition and 2-2 overall. McKenzie, ranked fourth in the latest AP poll for Class 2A, improved to 2-0 in the district and 4-1 overall.

 Next Game — Gleason will travel to take on South Fulton, while McKenzie is on the road to Humboldt. Both games will kick off at 7:30 on Friday night.

Gleason’s Ground Game Torches Halls Tigers

Stephanie Sturgis - Weakley County Press Sports Editor
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 12:43 pm

The Gleason Bulldogs piled up 340 rushing yards on the way to handing the Halls Tigers a 34-19 defeat in non-district action Friday night in Halls.

Gleason only had one 100-yard rusher, but three other Bulldogs tallied at least 44 rushing yards. Junior David Spellings was the big producer on the ground, amassing 150 yards on 17 carries. Two of those runs resulted in touchdowns for Gleason. Dalton Teeter added 89 yards and a score on 15 carries. Fullback James Owen rushed for 57 yards on 11 carries, while quarterback Conner Verdell compiled 44 yards on only four carries. Verdell’s rushes included a one-yard touchdown run.

The junior quarterback also threw for a TD, connecting with senior Nick Poore for the score.
On its second possession of the game, the Gleason offense reached paydirt. Starting at their own 40, the Dawgs alternated runs by Spellings and Teeter and overcame a 10-yard penalty along the way. Spellings finished the job with a 33-yard romp to the end zone. A week after struggling with converting points after touchdowns resulted in a 20-18 loss to West Carroll, the Dawgs lined Verdell up for the PAT kick. The junior split the uprights to extend Gleason’s lead to 7-0 with 4:39 to play in the opening quarter.

With the lead, the Bulldog defense was revved up against the young Halls offense. Gleason forced a quick three-and-out series and sent its offense back onto the field after a short 18-yard punt by the Tigers.

The Dawgs went to work with excellent field positions, starting at the Tiger 31-yard line. Two seven-yard runs — one each by Spellings and Owen — were followed by a four-yard gain by Teeter, however Teeter’s next two carries resulted in a total of six yards lost. On fourth down from the HHS 19, Verdell found his favorite target of the night — Poore — for a 19-yard touchdown strike. Verdell again kicked the PAT to lift the Gleason lead to 14-0 with 11:55 left to play in the first half.

Halls answered on its next drive, marching 61  yards in nine plays, eight of them runs. The Gleason defense held twice inside the four, but Tevin Giles eventually surged over the goal line for a three-yard touchdown run. The Tigers failed to convert the PAT, leaving Gleason in front, 14-6, with 8:37 left in the half.

The Dawgs had a quick response, using seven plays to cover 65 yards. Spellings notched his second long TD run of the night, this one covering 26 yards. Verdell was true on the PAT kick for a 21-6 lead with 5:08 left in the second frame.

Verdell came up with a sack on his HHS counterpart — QB Zach Harris — to help bring a quick end to the next Tiger drive.

After a Halls punt, Verdell helped the Dawgs add to their lead on the next possession. He connected once with Poore for seven yards, added a 16 yard carry and capped the drive with a one-yard TD run. Verdell missed the extra-point kick, but the Dawgs held a 27-6 lead heading into halftime.

The Tigers struck back to open the third quarter, covering 57 yards in 10 plays. Harris completed three passes, including an eight-yarder to TJ Reed for the touchdown with 8:15 on the clock. With the PAT, Halls cut the gap to 27-13.

Gleason again responded with a score. Teeter finished the nine-play, 63-yard drive with a nine-yard run. The kick missed, leaving the Gleason lead at 33-13.
Harris closed out scoring with a 20-yard TD run with 1:23 to play in the third in Gleason’s 33-19 win.

Gleason (2-1, 0-1 District 13-A) will try to pick up its first district victory when it takes the field on Friday night. The Dawgs will make the short trip across the county line to take on the McKenzie Rebels (3-1, 1-0 District 13-A). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m

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