Shorthanded Dogies stumble

NEWCASTLE — The Newcastle Dogies knew they were stepping up in classification when 3A Buffalo came to Schoonmaker Field on Sept. 2. Early on, they looked ready to seize the moment.

“Going into it, we felt really good,” head coach Matt Conzelman said. Newcastle took the opening kick, drove to the Bison five-yard line and looked poised to strike first. But the drive ended with a fumble — a turnover that swung momentum.

“That was the story of the night,” Conzelman said.

Buffalo answered immediately with a big passing play that set up the game’s opening touchdown. The Dogies’ situation worsened when starting quarterback Teddy Troftgruben was knocked out of the game while playing defense on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.

“That hurt just starting out,” Conzelman said, noting that All-State running back Collin McConkey also did not suit up because he was “banged-up.”

Without two of their top weapons, the Dogies trailed 21–0 at halftime. Still, Conzelman pointed to the way his players adjusted. 

“Kids stepped up in positions they weren’t familiar with,” he said.

Backup quarterback Dustin McCarthy shouldered a big load, rushing for 67 yards on 11 carries and scoring Newcastle’s lone touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

“For taking minimal reps on the week, I thought Dustin went in and did a really good job for us,” Conzelman said.

Running back Dane Crabtree carried 26 times for 131 yards, and Cole Erb chipped in three catches for 33 yards to help the offense move the chains. But the Dogies couldn’t keep pace with Buffalo’s speed and balance. 

“Buffalo is still fast,” Conzelman said. “We found that out.”

Statistically, Newcastle matched up well, outgaining the Bison 350–347 in total yards and earning more first downs (14 to 11). 

“If you look at the stats you wouldn’t know who won that game,” Conzelman said. “We are only one or two steps away from some things, and we would be able to hang with them.”

The Dogies also suffered another injury blow when starting cornerback Kaden Phillips broke his thumb, sidelining him for the near future. Conzelman said the rest of the roster should be back this week.

“It was one of those games where you look up at the scoreboard and go, ‘Man, I thought it was closer than that,’” Conzelman said.

Newcastle will travel to Sundance on Thursday, Sept. 11, for a matchup with the Upton-Sundance Patriots. 

“I like the matchup and hopefully we can get everybody back who was banged up a little,” Conzelman said.

Stat Box

Final Score
Buffalo 34, Newcastle 8

Scoring by Quarter
Buffalo – 7 14 13 0 — 34
Newcastle – 0 0 0 8 — 8

Team Stats

• First Downs: Buffalo 11, Newcastle 14
• Rushing Yards: Buffalo 147, Newcastle 213
• Passing Yards: Buffalo 195, Newcastle 35
• Total Offense: Buffalo 342, Newcastle 350
• Turnovers: Buffalo 0, Newcastle 2
• Penalties–Yards: Buffalo 3–25, Newcastle 4–20
• Punts–Average: Buffalo 2–66 (33.0), Newcastle 2–50 (25.0)

Newcastle Leaders

• Passing: Troftgruben 3-5, 23 yds; McCarthy 3-8, 12 yds
• Rushing: Crabtree 26-131; McCarthy 11-67, TD; Troftgruben 2-9
• Receiving: Erb 3-33; Perino 1-11; Crabtree 1-8
• Defense: Perino 11 tackles; McConkey 11 tackles; Rawhouser 7 tackles; White 7 tackles
• Special Teams: Crabtree 3 KO returns, 60 yds (long 23); Rich 1 KO return, 20 yds

Buffalo Leaders

• Passing: Geis 9-12, 201 yds, 2 TD
• Rushing: Behrend 14-67, TD; Rabel 5-21, 2 TD
• Receiving: Ihnat 6-139, TD; Jones 2-77, TD