No. 5 Raiders play good defense against the Dora Bulldogs Friday:
GDW Analysis: GOOD HOPE: Defense has been the motto for a sensational season by the Good Hope Raiders in 2024. Dora Bulldogs did find a way to score four times Friday evening.
However, four miscues served trouble for the visitors from Walker County with Good Hope taking down the Bulldogs 47 to 28 in the WKUL FM (92.1) Game of the Week. No doubt a huge play came at 4:13 in the 2nd quarter with Dora on the move and having the ball at Good Hope's 30. The Bulldogs fumbled with Landon Bagwell gathering the pigskin and going 70 yards for a scoop and score TD. The Raiders went up 28 to 14 at that point and very much maintained momentum the rest of the showdown for the top position in 4A, Region 5. Good Hope trailed 8 to 0 after Dora used short field to score on the first series. The Raiders touched the ball for the first time, taking it 64 yards in 10 plays as Tyler Cone hit a wide open Mason Drake for the score from 18 yards out. The kick by Robert Rodriguez had the Raiders down 8 to 7. Dora then fumbled on its next series with Drake pouncing on it for the Raiders as they had it at their 30. A 67 yard strike by Cone to Carter Rutherford extended the Raiders lead to 14 to 8 as the quarter ended. Dora would get the game tied at 14 to 14 early in the 2nd when QB Jayden Griffin ran 25 yards to the end zone. Griffin accounted for 209 yards rushing in the first half, taking the ball to paydirt three times. Good Hope showed poise and went 48 yards to regain the lead as Cone ended the drive on a run from the two. Rodriguez kicked the point after to make it 21 to 14. That would be followed the Raider defense with a TD thanks to heads up by Bagwell. His romp of a fumble from 70 yards allowed the Raiders to lead 28 to 14. Dora managed to score again before time ran out in the half when Griffin raced 26 yards around right end for the TD. At halftime, the Raiders led 28 to 21 as they amassed 225 yards offense with Cone throwing for 127 and two TDs. Dora had 231 yards, all on the ground, but the two fumbles played a huge role in the Bulldogs losing the regional championship on the final Friday in October. Bagwell again had a solid play as he forced another Dora fumble following a negative punt the Raiders had early in the 3rd. A one yard toss to Tucker Screws gave the Raiders breathing room when the third ended with Good Hope ahead 35 to 21. A 53 yard TD from Cone to Rutherford early in the 4th sent the Raiders to a 42 to 21 advantage. Dora came back and scored right after the Raiders did to make it 42 to 28 with over 10:00 to go in this contest. Good Hope got the ball deep into Dora territory and got a 25 yard FG from Rodriguez with 5:36 showing in extending the lead to 45 to 28. The defense got the final points when Rutherford tackled a Dora runner in the end zone for a safety. Good Hope's 47 to 28 victory is the 3rd time the Raiders have won vs. the Bulldogs in 10 meetings all time. Good Hope will host undefeated Fairview next Friday to end the regular season. The Raiders will play at Shabel Stadium in the first round of the 4A playoffs on November 8 against the No. 4 seed from Region 7.
Photo of Good Hope Raiders, courtesy of Cullman Daily.
