<\/p>\n
After being outscored 178-0 in its first three games of the season, the Dolores High School football team began Friday night\u2019s homecoming contest against Monte Vista hoping to get on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for the Bears, those hopes were fulfilled in a big way when junior fullback Levi Fuller raced for a 69-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to soften the sting of his team\u2019s 50-8 loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe score hasn\u2019t been in our favor all week long, but something we did do different this week was to get on the scoreboard,\u201d Dolores head coach Grant Hobbs said. \u201cThat was huge, and the kids responded to that. We\u2019re putting in the work and building this culture, and little improvements each week are huge for this team.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to receiving a boost from Fuller\u2019s score, the Bears drew energy from their ruckus home crowd, a small, but loud pep band, and a group of cheerleaders who ignored cold weather and kept fans engaged throughout the night.<\/p>\n
Also providing energy to players and fans was local radio DJ and well-known public address announcer Ray McDonnell, who cracked several jokes, howled at the moon on at least one occasion, and consistently praised players on both sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just coming out and trying our hardest,\u201d said Fuller, who expressed thanks to those who made this year\u2019s homecoming special. \u201cWe knew that the scoreboard might not turn out the best, but we put our hearts into it, and we still had a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Dolores players appeared to be focused and played their hardest throughout the night, the Bears proved to be no match for the Pirates, who scored five touchdowns in the opening quarter and never looked back.<\/p>\n
Among Monte Vista\u2019s many difference makers was senior Tyrese Otero, who intercepted a pass from Dolores quarterback Wyatt Koskie on the game\u2019s first offensive play from scrimmage and then returned his second interception of the game 60 yards for a touchdown later in the quarter.<\/p>\n
After Monte Vista senior quarterback Evan Stults raced into the end zone from 54 yards out to give his team a 44-0 lead with 10 minutes to go in the first half, a running clock was instituted and several Pirates starters were removed from the contest.<\/p>\n
Trailing 50-0 and struggling to move the ball midway through the fourth quarter, the Bears appeared to be headed to another scoreless night until Fuller took a hand-off and moved a large pile of Monte Vista players down the field before breaking free and racing into the end zone.<\/p>\n
As audience members cheered and Dolores players raced down the field to congratulate Fuller, Hobbs and several assistant coaches shouted encouragement. Junior lineman Gabriel Allred raised his arms in celebration as if to signal that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, I got the ball and I got hit two or three times,\u201d said Fuller. \u201cNobody really had a good hold on me, and I just felt a little pop and I was free. I just took off. It was great.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLevi (Fuller) came alive today,\u201d Hobbs said. \u201cHe begged me for the ball all week in practice, and I said, \u2018You need to earn your opportunities and make the best of them. You\u2019ll get the rock if you do that.\u2019 It was a really good feeling for me as a coach to get on the scoreboard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now owners of an offensive touchdown and eager to build on the improvements they have made so far, Bears players will turn its attention to a road matchup against Del Norte on Nov. 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to put it together,\u201d Dolores junior Caleb Montoya said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a lot of players, and we\u2019re making the most of it. We\u2019re turning Dolores around, and this is a culture that is going to continue to build for the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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