The Douglas Bulldogs were looking to use this years D-Day game to snap their six game losing streak and get their first win of the season.

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The game this year was dedicated to the late Tony Cortez Rose, a standout quarterback for Douglas in the late 1970’s who, several months ago, was diagnosed with cancer.

Rose lost his battle Sept. 26.

Wearing Rose’s No. 13 sticker on the back of their helmets, the Bulldogs led for 36 minutes but a 99 yard drive by Catalina late in the game led to them scoring and beating the Dogs 19-14 last Friday night at Armando DeLucas Stadium.

A 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blaze Rose, Tony’s cousin, to Fernando Rojas on a third and seven gave Douglas an early lead 10 minutes into the game. Rose’s extra point capped off the TD and gave the host Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

The score would remain 7-0 at the half where the DHS royalty was recognized and members of Tony’s family were honored.

Catalina took the opening drive of the second half and drove 69 yards in eight plays scoring on a six yard run. The successful extra point tied the game at 7-7.

The Trojans pooched the ensuing kickoff recovering the ball at Douglas’ 32 but the Bulldog defense stiffened and a 28 yard field goal attempt fell short.

The Bulldogs took advantage of that miss and took the ensuing drive down field where Grant Watkins would score from two yards out. Rose’s extra point would give Douglas a 14-7 lead.

Midway through the fourth Catalina would pick off a Rose pass and run it back for a score pulling within one. Opting to go for two points rather than kick for the tie the Trojans were called for an illegal procedure penalty pushing them back five yards to the seven. This time Catalina chose to kick the extra point only this time the Bulldogs were there to block it and left with a 14-13 lead.

Douglas attempted to run out the clock late in the game but was unable to do so punting the ball back to Catalina with 1:28 left in the game.

The ball rolled dead at the one leaving Catalina 99 yards away from a score. Trojan quarterback Marquise Moore then took over rushing for 70 of his game ending 109 on this drive eventually scoring on a 15-yard keeper than gave Catalina the win and handed Douglas its seventh straight loss.

Catalina would finish with 284 yards in total offense with 228 coming on the ground and 56 through the air.

Douglas had 187 yards in total offense with 78 coming on the ground and 109 through the air.

Rose was seven of 18 in passing with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Ozzie Moreno had three receptions for 23 yards; Rojas one for 34 and a TD; Matt Nelson three for 52.

Rushing, Rose had nine carries for 42 yards; Watkins was 16 for 32 with a score; David Vasquez six for five and Dylan Guerrero one for minus one.

The Bulldogs, 0-7, host Pueblo this Friday night and Bisbee next Friday before ending the season Oct. 28 at Cienega.

Junior varsity/freshmen

On Wednesday Oct. 3 the freshman Bulldogs took their usual walk from their locker room across the street to Armando de Lucas Stadium. On the way they noticed there was no school bus in the parking lot from the opposing team. Catalina didn’t show up. Coaches for Douglas would later learn Catalina did not field a freshman team all year and had combined their freshman and junior varsity programs.

With the junior varsity scheduled to play Catalina the next day in Tucson and in an effort to get the kids more game experience, coaches for the freshman and JV teams agreed to do the same; take both the freshman and junior varsity teams and let the freshman play offense and the JV play the defense.

Receiving the ball first, the offense picked up right where they left off last week driving down the field and scoring on an eight yard touchdown reception by Jacob Ortega. Ortega who also serves as the kicker, would convert the extra point making the score 7-0. The defense played by the JV team decided to score a few points of their own. At the start of the second quarter Victor Varela intercepted a Catalina pass and ran it back 55 yards for a touchdown.

With the defense going right back on the field they would force Catalina to punt from deep in their own territory. Carlos Estrada would break through the line and block the punt out of the back of the end zone resulting in a safety. The defense would add yet another score before halftime. Again on a blocked punt this time by Osiris Villalobos the ball would be recovered by Eddie Rodriguez and returned 10 yards for another score giving Douglas a 23-0 lead at the break.

The first score of the second half came off Estrada’s leg, the JV kicker, who drilled a 36 yard field goal.

Two minutes later the defense would again capitalize on a Catalina mishap. With the Catalina running back carrying the ball loosely, Osiris Villalobos would strip the ball away and scamper for a 45 yard touchdown giving Douglas a 33-0 lead. The defense would continue to rattle the Catalina offense forcing another fumble just before the end of the third quarter this time being recovered by Estrada. The very next play Ernesto Loreto would connect with wide receiver Jacob Ortega again this time for a 41 yard strike that would be the final score of the game as the Dogs led 39-0 following the blocked extra point.

Stats for the game had Douglas with 172 yards in total offense with 102 coming on the ground and 70 through the air. Loreto was seven of 14 in passing for 102 yards and two TD’s.

Ortega would finish the night with seven receptions for 102 yards and two scores. Mark Perez had 17 carries for 57 yards; Rodrigo Cornidez had two carries for 13 yards.