The Quitman junior varsity football team lost 28-0 to the Bullard Panthers in Bullard Thursday night. The Panthers came out with more than 60 players on their team, against the Bulldog's 23 players.

Quitman stepped up to the challenge and met it head on. Bullard won the toss, and elected to kick off to start the game.

Quitman ran up the middle for a first down on the first play of the game, but penalties drove them back and forced them to punt the ball away.

Bullard drove the ball down to the Quitman 10-yard-line before the defense shut them down on fourth and long.

The Bulldogs were unable to move the ball on the next drive, and gave the Panthers a short field. The Bulldogs allowed a touchdown and a two point conversion, putting the Panthers up 8-0 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Panthers were driving deep into Bulldog territory before the defense forced a fumble on the five yard line and recovered it in the end zone for a touchback.

The Bulldogs were not able to get a first down, and had to punt the ball away. This gave the Panthers a short field to work with, allowing a touchdown just before the half. The Panthers had a 14-0 lead at the break.

The Panthers scored two more times in the third quarter, putting them up 28-0 going into the fourth.

The Bulldogs still fought hard in the fourth, mounting two long drives that came up short of the end zone. Their defense controlled the Panther offense, causing them to punt and to turn it over on downs.

The coaches said they were proud of how the boys played with heart and that they gave it their very best. The Bulldogs will be at home next Thursday night as they host the Redwater Dragons at 6:00 p.m.