The Dewar Dragons left no doubt in their season opener Friday night, steamrolling the No. 4-ranked Yale Bulldogs with a dominant 54-6 road victory. Under the direction of firstyear head coach Matt Ross, the topranked Dragons in Class B-I put on a clinic in all three phases of the game to extend their winning streak to 12 games dating back to last season.
From the very first snap, Dewar looked every bit the defending state champion. The Dragons scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions and never looked back, piling up points with clinical efficiency. Dewar ultimately scored touchdowns on all seven of its firsthalf possessions and successfully converted six of seven two-point attempts, building an insurmountable 54-0 lead before halftime.
— Kilhoffer leads the charge
Junior quarterback Peyton Kilhoffer was the conductor of the offensive orchestra, showing poise in the pocket and pinpoint accuracy. Despite some early pressure from Yale’s defensive front – including a first-quarter sack from Bulldog lineman Lucas Reece – Kilhoffer remained unfazed. He consistently found open receivers downfield, including a key 30-yard strike to Joseph Moore that set up a touchdown inside the Yale 15yard line early in the contest.
Kilhoffer added another touchdown pass on the following possession, exploiting mismatches in the Bulldogs’ secondary to put Dewar up 24-0 with over two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
— Relentless defense shuts down high-powered Yale While the Dragons offense made headlines, it was Dewar’s defense that sent an equally powerful message. Yale – a team that scored 45+ points in 10 of 12 games last season – couldn’t gain traction against a stifling Dewar front.
The Bulldogs failed to get a first down until they were already down by two scores, and quarterback Kaden Teter was under duress throughout the game. Dewar’s defensive line created havoc in the backfield, limiting the run game and collapsing the pocket repeatedly.
Yale’s only score came on a 50-yard breakaway run by senior Braiden Hodgett with just one second left in the first half, which prevented a shutout. It was Hodgett’s eighth straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 119 yards on 16 carries for a 7.4-yard average – the lone bright spot for the Bulldogs on the night.
— A Promising Start for Coach Ross The win marked a successful debut for Matt Ross, who took over as head coach after the Dragons’ state title run last season. Ross didn’t skip a beat, maintaining Dewar’s winning culture while showcasing aggressive play-calling and discipline on both sides of the ball.
His Dragons were well-prepared, physical, and fast – traits that have long defined Dewar football. Scoring 54 unanswered points on the road against a top-five opponent was an emphatic way to open the new era.
— Looking Ahead
Dewar (1-0) hits the road again this Friday, Sept. 5, to take on the Wetumka Chieftains in another non-conference test scheduled for 7 p.m. With Friday’s victory, Dewar sent a clear message: the Dragons are still the team to beat in Class B-I – and under Coach Ross, their fire burns as bright as ever.
