Scott Callaway Notches First Win As Bullard’s Head Coach Against Commerce, 44-24

BULLARD – The Bullard Panthers celebrated homecoming in big fashion, posting a 44-24 win over Commerce, on Friday night at Panther Stadium.

The win was the Panthers' first of the year, and the first for new head coach Scott Callaway.

Senior quarterback Cleet Bowman threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another 74 in the win.

The Panthers drew first blood after a big stop by Landry Lassiter forced a punt.

The 9-yard effort form the Tigers punter put the Panthers in good shape at the Tigers 48-yard line.

It took just four plays before Bowman found wideout Will McCowin for a 26-yard scoring strike. McCowin added the PAT kick for the lead.

Commerce kicker,Jordy Ramirez got the Tigers on the board with a 43-yard field goal at the 3:02 mark for a 7-3 first quarter score.

McGowin got the Panthers on the board again with his foot, two plays into the second period with a 24-yard field goal, which gave Bullard a 10-3 lead.

The first of two Bullard turnovers aided the Tigers scoring when a pass from Tristan Shewmake hit a Panther receiver in the hands, but he could not hold on. Commerce's Larrance Hickson snagged the ball in stride and walked in from 12 yards away to tie the game at 10-10. That would be as close as it got.

Bullard’s Colton Bowman caught a 21-yard pass from Cleet Bowman to set up the Panthers in the red zone, and two plays later Cleet Bowman hooked up with Dustin Dover for a 12-yard scoring strike. The PAT left it at 17-10 for the halftime score.

Bowman had 21 yards rushing on four tries and threw completed 5 of 10 passes for 93 yards and two TDs in the opening half alone.

The Panthers picked up where they left off in the second half, scoring on the first possession. Wideout Ty Crayton hauled in a 30-yard pass from Bowman, running 5:05 off the clock.

Again, a Bullard turnover on a fumbled punt put Commerce at the Panthers' 37-yard line.

Tigers quarterback Casey Shields called his own number, scooting in from 7 yards out, and the Ramirez PAT kick was good for a 24-17 Bullard advantage.

Bullard came right back again. Colton Bowman was on the good side of a 37-yard pass from Cleet Bowman to make it a 31-17 count after three periods.

The Bowman show continued as running back Luke Bowman busted through the Tigers defense for a 37-yard scamper. The PAT snap was fumbled, however, for a 37-17 score on the board.

Commerce did not lay down, though. Shields took off for another score on a 12-yard jaunt to cut the lead to 37-24. Shields finished as the top ground-gainer in the game with 82 yards on 14 carries and two scores.

As time wound down, another Tigers failed fourth down gave the ball to the hosts deep in Tigers territory.

As the clock rolled inside a minute, Cade Duvak rumbled for a 20-yard dash up the middle for the last score, and the McGowin PAT kick was true for the 44-24 final score.

Luke Bowman ran for 69 yards and caught two passes for another 57 yards. Ty Crayton made four catches for 60 yards, and Colton Bowman added two grabs for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Both teams open district play next week. Bullard (1-3) plays Center at Panther Stadium in District 9-4A Division I play, while the Tigers (0-4) entertain Farmersville in District 7-3A Division I action.