Bulldawgs Xtreme Conference Champions

Erie,PA-The 2019 season came to an end Saturday for the Erie Express as they fall to the Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs 32-27 in the Xtreme Conference Championship Game. 

The Express won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Bulldawgs got on the scoreboard first scoring on a yard run, the 2 point conversion was good and the Bulldawgs led 8-0,8:32 of the first quarter. The score would remain the same to end the first.

Erie would get on the scoreboard with 1:56 to play in the first half when Brandon Hanna punched it in the end zone from a yard out. The 2pt try was no good making the score 8-6. With :36 to play in the half the Bulldawgs answered that score with a 34 yard Touchdown pass, the 2pt try was good and the Bulldawgs led 16-6 at the half.

Erie scored first in the third quarter when Hanna found Corey McWilliams on a 29 yard TD pass then again for the 2pt try to cut the Bulldawgs lead  to 16-14, 8:19 3rd. The Bulldawgs answered that score with a 28 yard TD, the 2pt try was good making it 24-14, 7:56 3rd. At 5:18 of the third quarter Hanna would find Antonio Batista from 7 yard  out, the 2pt try was no good making it 24-20 to end the 3rd.

Hanna hit Terry Jackson on a 28 yard TD pass with Jeremy Ditzler adding the XP to give Erie the lead 27-24. 2:57 4th.

The Bulldawgs took the lead right back scoring on a 53 yard  pass, the 2pt try was good to give us the final score 32-27. 

Bulldawgs Notes: Keys to Victory 

Bulldawg QB Eric Chapa and WR Tyran Moore showed some great moxie. Chapa had three first half turnovers and another interception that bounced off the chest of Moore. After Erie took the lead with under two minutes to go, Chapa hit Moore on a 53 yard play to give the Bulldawgs the lead for good. Both players are rookies in the GDFL. 

Randall BayBay Smith kick return for 83 yards set up Keon Bohannon’s TD run on the very next play.

Keon Bohannon put the Bulldawgs on his back last night. His touchdown to answer a score in the third quarter to make it 24-14 was huge. Then the 73 yard run after another score that made it 24-20 flipped the field. Bohannon had 11 rushes for 186 yards and two Touchdowns. 

Middle Tennessee Bulldawgs will face the Oklahoma Thunder in a rematch of last years GDFL National Championship Game .

ABOUT THE GDFL

The Gridiron Developmental Football League is a Professional Developmental Football League based in Memphis, Tennessee. This League was established to provide the community with high quality sports entertainment and to provide athletes the opportunity to participate in professional sports. We are looking at partnering with national and local area businesses in our pursuit of excellence and commitment to our community. Our commitment, dedication, and vision are set on building a firm foundation for professionalism and quality. The Gridiron Developmental Football League continues to strive to provide a quality minor professional level of football throughout the United States and beyond giving area athletes and fans the opportunity be a part of history. Our organization would like to thank you for your support. We are excited about the upcoming season and look forward to “Making AN IMPACT” in our Community.

Fans can visit our website at www.gdfl.org for upcoming announcements, ticketing info, and player tryouts.

The GDFL Communications Office contributed to this article