FLAG BLUE

The Bedford Bulldogs Flag Blue team would like to apologize for any pictures that fell from your walls on Sunday morning, as the sonic boom from their shutdown defense reverberated from the epicenter at Preston Field through every corner of town.

The ‘Dogs in Blue displayed their ferocity early and often in this one, stopping Derry on their first four plays thanks to a diving flag from Noah Lawless, a backfield flag grab from Ryder Proulx, a pass defense from Joey Suozzo, and a QB sack from defensive end Luke Maye, who spent so much time in the Derry backfield that the Demons considered making him team captain.

On offense, the ‘Dogs’ speed and creativity was met equally with a solid Derry D. Long runs from Lawless and Mason Garrett came up just short of the first down marker, putting the boys back on defense, where Kellen Lucious, Nicholas Jodoin, and the Bulldog defense remained stout. Mason Garrett tracked down Derry’s only long gain with a TD-saving flag, and the rest of the defense held firm to keep the game scoreless at the half.

Joey Suozzo fired up the crowd early in the second half with a dazzling QB sweep behind a perfect block from Owen Brimblecom, and Sam Rousseau exploited the middle on a QB sneak before being de-flagged. Speedy sweeps from Garrett and Proulx showed some flash, and a play-action bootleg from Maye picked up solid yardage, but ultimately the defenses dictated the game and neither team reached paydirt. Both sides look forward to a rematch of this well-played tilt later in the season.

FLAG RED

The Bedford Bulldogs Red team kicked off their season with a tremendous 4-0 win over a very game Derry squad in front of a raucous crowd of supporters at Bedford High School on Sunday morning.

The Bulldogs defense came out firing to start the game as Cam Doyle pulled the first two flags in the backfield to stymie Derry’s opening drive. Once Bedford got the ball it was off to the races for quarterback Denys Savenko as he took a sweep to the left side on the ‘Dawgs third play from scrimmage for a long TD run and a 1-0 Bedford lead. Both Kiptyn Breault and Jacob Shadroui helped spring the long run with a pair of huge blocks on the left side of the line.

Following the TD, it was more dominating defense from Bedford as they continued to hold back a potent Derry offense. Ike Corbett joined Doyle in the backfield to pull several flags and Logan Dollard helped end another Derry drive by grabbing a flag as well. The Bulldogs defense didn’t allow a single first down the entire game, showing commitment, communication, and teamwork on “D” all day.

Back on offense, the Bulldogs kept clicking, as Wyatt Carnevale and Pearson Stasko both took off on long touchdown runs of their own. Bedford’s quickness to the outside was on display all day as they surged to a 3-0 lead. Derry was in catch-up mode as they tried a pass play late in the game, but with Reed Olejarz causing pressure on the QB, the ball was intercepted by Savenko to dash any hopes of a Derry comeback.

With time running out, the Bulldogs lined up for a final pass play of their own as Corbett dropped back and hit Savenko in stride for a long TD making the score 4-0 and ending the game on a great note for the ‘Dawgs and their noisy home crowd.

FLAG GREEN

The Bedford Bulldogs Green Flag Team pulled out a huge 4-2 win on Sunday against the Derry Demons. Bedford jumped out early to a 1-0 lead with a touchdown run by Teddy Montagano and never looked back. Other notable touchdowns by Rachel Meisner and Teddy Montagano gave the Bulldogs enough points to double up the Demons. Anthony Correnti added another long run for a touchdown towards the end of the first half that was called back due to an equipment malfunction. Offensively, the Bulldogs supported their touchdown runs with superior blocking from Aiden Klardie, Cole Thibodeau, Nathan Dunker, who also had a nice day running the ball, Luke Burnett, Drew Burnett and Sean McGee.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by veteran players Nathan Dunker, Anthony Correnti and Rachel Meisner, Aiden Klardie & Cole Thibodeau. The young kids led by Luke Burnett got in on the flag pulling action holding the Demons to several 4 and outs. Rachel Meisner capped off a late defensive stand by the Bulldogs with a critical interception that led to a touchdown giving the Bulldogs a 2 touchdown lead. Truly a great season opener for the Green Team!

FLAG YELLOW

The Bedford Bulldogs Yellow squad played their first hard fought game of the season this Sunday against the Derry Red squad at the Bedford High School stadium. Bedford took possession of the ball to start the game and got off to a hot start. On the first play of the game, Cooper Gunning took the ball all the way to pay dirt for a quick TOUCHDOWN on a running play to the right side behind some solid down field blocks from Ben King and Caleb Hinton.

Derry the took the ball and marched down the field. The Bulldogs made a great goal line stand and held Derry on the first 3 downs, but Derry managed to sneak into the end zone on 4th down.

Bedford got the ball back and runs from Taven Sealey, Caleb Hinton, and Will Riley gained the Bulldogs a first down. After additional runs from Caleb Hinton, Taven Sealey, and John Hollis, Bedford found themselves in 4th and short. Will Riley took the ball off the right side and barreled over one defender, then split another two into the open field, racing all the way to the end zone for another TOUCHDOWN.

Derry came out on the next set of downs and after being shut down by the Bulldogs D on the first 3 plays, escaped for a long run on the next play and was seemingly headed for a touchdown when Cameron Calkins chased down the would be scorer pulling his flag and saving the touchdown. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs D could not stop Derry on the short field and Derry managed another touchdown.

Just when it looked like the first half was about to come to a close, Bedford got the ball back. On the very first play of the limited clock, Cody Beyer took the ball on a QB Sneak off the right side, getting some nice blocking from John Hollis and Gunnar Janicke, then bouncing it to the outside where he ran past the Derry defense all the way to another Bedford TOUCHDOWN. Derry got the ball back but quickly ran out of time before the half expired.

The second half started with Derry in possession of the ball. Derry dropped back into the shotgun, and on a broken play, which could have been called a down ball, ran the ball down the right sideline for a long gain. Cooper Gunning was there to save the touchdown and pulled the flag of the Derry runner before he had the chance to cross the goal line. The Bulldogs D held strong on the next two plays, but gave up the short touchdown run on the next play.

The Bulldogs came out on the next set of downs with runs off the left side by Cameron Calkins and Gunnar Janicke. A run to the right by John Hollis was then sniffed out by the Derry D, putting the Bulldogs in 4th and short. Cody Beyer took the ball off the right side but was stopped just shy of the first down marker, leading to the only turnover on downs by the Bulldogs that day.

Derry took the ball back and the Bedford D held strong for the first two downs, but gave up their only long touchdown of the day on a run by the Derry squad on 3rd down. The Bulldogs got the ball back with a limited clock and went into the hurry up offense . Ben King ran the ball for a short gain off the left side. Bentley Champagne then took the ball up the middle for a short gain. On the last play of the game, Cooper Gunning took the ball around the right side close to the first down marker as time expired on the clock.

The Yellow squad looks forward to more exciting action next Sunday.

INSTRUCTIONAL 8U

On a perfect football morning to start the season the Bulldogs 8U team came out ready to play. Gavin MConnell lead the kick off team with a strong foot booting the ball down the field.

The defense took the field with pride and delivered hard hits. Frankie O’Donnell, Rordan Kemmerer, Rocco Aronson and Jaydon Wilson lead the way with great tackles.

When the offense hit the field with a quarterback combo of Jake Boughter and Teddy Lapointe running the two offensive units they were sure to find success. An excellent end reverse with a long run by Jack Tamulevich set up what would be the first of two-great touchdown runs by Camden Santos. Strong blocking on a counter play by Ben Lu, Graham Chmielecki and the Pitts brothers set Jack Redfern up for a long run. Shortly after Jake Boughter would streak down the side line for a touchdown.

For many of the 8U players, this was their first game of tackle football. They all played hard, had very few penalties and showed excellent sportsmanship at all times making the coaching staff very proud of their hard work.

TACKLE 9U

The sun shined brightly at The Big House as the Bedford 9U team kicked off the 2017 season, with a capacity crowd filling Bedford High School to finally see what a merged Bedford team would look like. They were not disappointed. ESPN declared it a morning of “shock and awe” as the Bulldogs played incredibly strong in all phases of the game as they beat the Derry Demons 27-0.

Game Captains Matty Ciruso, Henry DuBois, Zach Papik, and Sam Doty got things started in warm ups and the 9U Crew never looked back. Ignoring the clearly visible “Beware of Dogs” sign, the Demons offense attempted to move forward, but they were met with a resistance that could not be overcome. Led by the dominant play of dog bone winner Hunter Crowley, game high tackler James Tamulevich, Aaron Chmielecki, Andre Steinbrueck, Beau Dunker, and Nate Duquette, the Bulldogs defense stifled the Derry offense, holding them to -11 yards for the game.

On Special Teams, the kickoff squad was very busy and Patrik Burke, Trenton Otero, and Connor Flaherty were all spot on with ball placement. Matty Ciruso was able to turn one of these kick offs back into a Bedford possession with a great recovery.

The 9U offense worked out a few kinks and was humming like a Bulldog Red Ferrari after the 1st possession. James Gilbert opened the scoring with a 17-yard burst to the outside in the first quarter, with QB Trenton Otero scoring the extra point. After a brilliant 27-yard catch and run by Drew Redfern, a “suited and booted” Hudson Schmitt scored the next TD as Andre Steinbrueck popped one in for another extra point. For Bedford’s third score, James Tamulevich hammered one up the gut as the lead swelled to 20-0. Finally, after a 20-yard catch from Jeff Cotnoir, FB Aaron Chmielecki scored on a wedge play with Trenton Otero adding his 2nd extra point.

In all, 15 Bulldogs carried the pigskin on Sunday with another 3 targeted for passes. The team will get a well-earned break before facing Manchester on September 10th.

Great work Bulldogs 9U! ONE TOWN. ONE TEAM. WON TRADITION!

TACKLE 10U

The Bedford Bulldogs 10U Tackle team kicked off their 2017 season with a big 20-12 home win against a talented and physical Derry Demons Black squad on Sunday morning.

Down 6-0 early in the first quarter, the Bulldogs defense turned the tides with Steven Gilcreast and Evan Dunker forcing a Derry fumble, which was recovered by Brody Helton. Then the offense got to work, stringing together a 12-play drive, including a leaping Jack Hinton grab and two fourth-and-one conversions, ending in a Helton four-yard plunge to tie the game. A pass from Jack Maye to Dunker tacked on the extra point, giving the home team a one-point lead.

Kickoffs from Noah Cassamassino pinned the Demons deep in their own territory all day long, and big defensive plays from Sam Surgento, Justin Chiras, Christian Page, Dustin Westcott, Hinton, and Maye got the ball back with two minutes left in the half. After a Helton touchdown run was called back due to holding, Dunker found Maye on a long seam route, but Maye was tackled at the five as the half ran out.

In the second half, the teams traded possessions once again, with Brody Woloski, Cassamassino, Helton, and Chiras contributing to the defensive effort. Derry’s defense buckled down as well, limiting Bulldog runners to short gains. It wasn’t until Maye and Dunker combined to force a fumble, recovered by Sam Meisner, that the Bulldogs began to pull away. Runs by Helton and Brady Doldo set up Brody Woloski for his first score of the year, an elusive nine-yard scamper that put the home team up by a score. Maye would find Gilcreast in the corner of the end zone to tack on the PAT.

On defense, Colby Boyd, Gus Forgey, Ronan Looney, and the rest of the ‘Dogs shut the door, but the offense was unable to move the ball and Derry returned a blocked punt the distance to close the gap. The Bulldogs offense turned to Brady Doldo, who ripped off a 51-yarder to put the home team up for good. Boyd would recover the ensuing kickoff, and after some clock-killing runs from Westcott, an Evan Dunker interception sealed the deal and moved the 10U Bulldogs to 1-0 on the young season.

The Bulldogs face Manchester East at home on September 10th.

TACKLE 11U

It was a perfect day and the Bedford High School for 11U’s season opening against the Derry Demons.

The Bulldog captains were Luke Soden, Dylan Soden, Kevin Sheridan, Danny Black and Spencer Henrichon. Bedford won the toss and elected to kick. After a great kickoff by Brady Jackson that twisted and turned twenty yards down field, bouncing off the hands of the Derry players, the ball was recovered by Spencer Henrichon giving the Bulldogs their first offensive series of the year.

Danny Black led the Bulldog offense at Quarterback. It was apparent from the onset that the offensive line, led by Nate Clark, Teghan McConnell and Mahith Nareddy, came to play. With an impressive line surge on the opening plays, Luke Soden made steady gains down the field. In the Red Zone, Kevin Sheridan muscled his way on two consecutive carries for the first touchdown of the day.

The Bulldog defense held the Demons on their opening series with limited gains. Big stops were made by Ledger Russell & Nick Polishan giving the Bulldogs the ball back after a failed 4th down attempt by Derry.

On the second offensive series, a steady dose of Jack Riso got the Bulldogs quickly back into scoring territory. Riso capped off a great offensive series by scampering for a 7 yard TD. The extra point by Henrichon, put the dogs up 13 – 0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the bulldogs once again recovered the football as Kevin Sheridan smothered the loose pigskin. Superb blocking by Will Helmke allowed Luke Soden to break away for a huge gain on 4th down, once again putting the Bulldogs in position for their 3rd score of the first half. Luke eventually got the outside for a 5 yard TD run, with the extra point by Sheridan to put the Dogs up 20 – 0 at half time.

The second half featured the Bulldog Defense with outstanding play by Alex Arias, Kaeden Elmer, Ethan Chmielecki, Tyler Johnston, Dante DeGennaro, Ben Meisner, Jalen Kamineni and Jaden Cote. Relentless effort gave this defense their first shutout of the year.

The Bulldog scoring effort was capped off by Dylan Soden with short but powerful carry from the 1 yard line. The Bulldog centers, John Kramer and Ledger Russell, were perfect all afternoon, leading the dogs to a 26-0 victory. The last offensive drive of the day was the Jamie Collins show, with several impressive carries down the field before QB Brady Jackson took a knee to end the game.

The 11U Bulldogs play another home game in two weeks against Manchester East.