Jacob Hurley Rushes for 197, Two TDs to Lead Quitman Over Grand Saline, 31-8

GRAND SALINE -- Behind the legs of Jacob Hurley and a stingy defense, the Quitman Bulldogs defeated the Grand Saline Indians, 31-8, on Friday night at Indian Memorial Stadium.

Hurley had 197 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, while the Bulldogs defense added five sacks, five tackles for loss, and three pass-breakups in the win.

"I'm just so very proud of our kids to hang in there and battle, because that first victory is so important," said Quitman coach Ron Callahan, whose team took a crucial District 7-2A Division I win. "That first one is so hard to get when you haven't done it. Now we know we can do it, and hopefully we continue that way. That's eight quarters for (Quitman), with no turnovers and that's also a big blessing for us."

Quitman (1-5, 1-1) took control late in the second quarter when tailback Sherman Birdsong completed a six-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 2:30 mark, making it 14-0. After a quick three-and-out for Grand Saline, the Bulldogs went 35 yards in less than a minute and a half, finishing with a Ivan Molina 47-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half and all the momentum heading into the locker room.

Quitman used a 15-play drive that started at 6:23 in the third, and was completed by quarterback Joel Cameron's 1-yard scoring plunge and a 24-0 lead, 9:39 in the fourth. The senior signal-caller  finished with 59 yards on 12 totes, and the one score.

Grand Saline (1-5, 0-2) put together a long drive of their own with the ensuing possession by going 15 plays, covering 75 yards, ending with a Austen Truett 4-yard touchdown strike to wideout Dean Latta. John Corrales' two-point conversion made it 24-8.

The sophomore Truett finished with 12-for-33 for 124 yards and a touchdown. Corrales snagged eight catches for 63 yards.

"We have to show up ready to play. We weren't ready tonight, " said Grand Saline coach Mike Ludlow. "It's frustrating but coaches gotta coach, and kids gotta play."

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first, early in the second quarter when senior running back Hurley scored from five yards out at the 7:48 mark, and a 7-0 advantage.

Quitman scored a late touchdown when Hurley ran it in from 4 yards out, completing a six-play drive with 42 seconds left, topping the score at 31-8.

"We just knew what we wanted to do, and it was our turn," Callahan said.