Bulldogs win first district championship since 2005

The Marlin Bulldogs football team defeated the Valley Mills Eagles 28-21 on Friday, Nov. 3, securing their first district championship since 2005. 

The Bulldogs put themselves on the scoreboard first in the first quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run by Ja’Marien Womack for a 7-0 lead. Valley Mills responded with 14 unanswered points on a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 29-yard touchdown pass to lead Marlin 14-7 at halftime. 

Marlin scored the only points of the third quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Roderick Suiters to Jordan Womack to tie the game at 14. 

The Eagles started the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 54-yard punt return touchdown to retake the lead 21-14. Marlin responded in a big way with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Suiters to Jordan Womack to tie the game again at 21. 

The Bulldogs retook the lead once again with a 1-yard touchdown run from Mario Hopwood to go ahead 28-21, which would be the final score to give Marlin the victory.

Roderick Suiters had a great game, throwing for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Womack was unstoppable, catching six passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Mario Hopwood was fantastic, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown. 

With this win, Marlin has a record of 8-2 and a perfect district record of 7-0 and claiming the district title. 

Up next, the Bulldogs will take on the Kerens Bobcats in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. The game will be on Thursday, Nov. 9, at Waco Midway High School and kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.