The win improved Holland’s record to 4–2 for the season, 1–1 in district play. The Bulldogs remained winless, 0–1 in district.
Stroud’s game–winning touchdown came on a 41–yard pass play with 4:41 left in the game. The pass was deflected by Anthony Palomo at the Bartlett 5, and Stroud made an acrobatic catch between two defenders before strolling into the end zone.
The touchdown came one play after the Bulldogs had tied the score on Stevon Johnson’s 4–yard run, and a two–point conversion from Pierre Smith to Michael Smith.
On the ensuing kickoff, Eric Sarles returned the ball from his own 28 to the Bartlett 41 to give Holland great field position.
On the kickoff following Stroud’s touchdown, Pierre Smith returned the ball 80 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a holding penalty against the Bulldogs at midfield brought the ball back to the Bartlett 40.
From there the Bulldogs moved to the Holland 35 before Stroud stepped in front of an intended receiver at the Hornet 29 and returned the ball all the way to the Bartlett 28 with 1:47 remaining. It was his second interception of the half.
The Hornets then drove to the Bartlett 2 while running out the clock.
Trailing 14–0 at halftime, the Bulldogs scored on the first possession of the second half. Pierre Smith gave Bartlett great field position, returning the kickoff to the Holland 44. Using a power running game missing in the first half, the Bulldogs drove to the Hornet 19 in five plays. Then Pierre Smith connected with Michael Smith in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown pass.
Bartlett attempted a two–point conversion, but Pierre Smith’s pass sailed out of the back of the end zone, leaving the score 14–6 with 8:36 left in the third quarter.
On the Bulldogs’ next possession, they drove from their own 37 to the Holland 20 before Stroud stopped the drive with an interception at the 11.
The Hornets then moved the ball out to midfield before turning it over on a fumble. Bartlett took possession at its own 46 and scored 11 plays later on Johnson’s 4–yard run with 5:01 remaining in the game.
Holland built a 14–0 halftime advantage on a 90–yard touchdown run by Doug Murphy and a well–executed 19–yard play–action pass from Ash to Kyle Naizer.
Stroud finished the game with 159 yards rushing on 17 carries. Ash completed eight of 11 passes for 104 yards.
The Hornets’ swarming defense, led by J.D. Kelley, Nathan Rodriguez, Arthur None, Clayton Hale, Murphy and Stroud, shut down Bartlett in the first half, limiting the Bulldogs to five first downs, 13 yards rushing and 65 yards total offense.
But Bartlett busted loose in the second half, racking up 13 first downs, 153 yards rushing and 172 yards total.
Brandon Gadison and Garrison Rafay led the Bulldogs on defense.
Bartlett will host the Granger Lions next week while Holland has a bye week.
rray@temple-telegram.com
HOLLAND 21, BARTLETT 14
Bartlett 0 0 6 8 - 14
Holland 0 14 0 7 - 21
Hol - Murphy 90 run (Sarles kick)
Hol - Naizer 19 pass from Ash (Sarles kick)
Bar - M. Smith 19 pass from P. Smith (pass failed)
Bar - Johnson 4 run (M. Smith pass from P. Smith)
Hol - Stroud 41 pass from Ash (Sarles kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
Bar Hol
First downs 18 12
Rushes-yards 40-166 35-225
Passing yards 71 104
Comp.-Att.-Int. 6-18-3 8-11-1
Punts-average 4-29.8 2-28.5
Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-2
Penalties-yards 12-95 7-46
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - Bartlett: Stevon Johnson 15–65, Eric Benavides 8–46, Gadison 5–31, Borja 3–11, Pierre Smith 4–(-1), Ewing 2–(-5), M. Smith 1–14, Anthony Palomo 1–3, Derek Pruett 1–22; Holland: Doug Murphy 17–159, Clayton Ash 15–51, Ethan Stroud 3–15.
PASSING - Bartlett: P. Smith 6–17–3–71, Benavidez 0–1–0–0; Holland: Ash 8–11–1–104.
RECEIVING - Bartlett: Uson 3–35, M. Smith 2–23, Gadison 1–13; Holland: Richie Pope 3–20, Stroud 2–42, Kyle Naizer 1–19, Darius Moore 1–14, Andrew Elliott 1–9.
