The McDermitt High School football team stands on the sideline for the National Antem prior to its game with Pyramid Lake on Saturday afternoon. It was the first game for the Bulldogs since the spring of 2021.
MCDERMITT — The last time the McDermitt High School football team was on the field for a game was March 26, 2021, against Owyhee in a shortened spring season, as the 2020 fall campaign was wiped out by Covid.
The field went silent for the fall of 2021 and 2022, but the Bulldogs returned this season with the minimum of eight players, including girl in Laeloni Tobey.
Pyramid Lake made its way to McDermitt on Saturday for a late-afternoon start and won the game 54-0.
Even though it was not the result the Bulldogs were looking for, everyone was pleased to see the team back on the field competing.
Pyramid Lake scored on the first play of the game on a 47-yard run by Cash Hall and the Lakers quickly made it 16-0, when Takoda Rivers returned a block punt 16 yards to for a score with 7:47 left in the first quarter.
McDermitt's Josh Northrup fights for extra yardage as AJ Farmer blocks for him.
McDermitt fumbled on its next possession and one play later, Cash connected with Rivers for a 45-yard touchdown and a 24-0 lead.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over on their next drive on a fumble and that turned into a 9-yard touchdown pass from Cash to Albert Banda-Phoenix and a 32-0 advantage.
McDermitt collected its initial first down of the game late in the first quarter but eventually had to punt the ball.
The Bulldogs defense stepped up after, forcing the Lakers to punt but on the next play, McDermit turned the ball over with a fumble.
McDermitt quarterback Christopher Scott looks for room to run against Pyramid Lake.
On the second play of the Pyramid Lake drive, Cash scampered 38 yards for a touchdown and 40-0 lead.
The turnover bug bit McDermitt again late in the second half and on the final play of the half, Cash scored from six yards out to make the score 48-0 at halftime.
The lone touchdown of the second half came on a 2-yard run by Austin Renteria.
The 2023 McDermitt football team included Eli Northrup, Josh Northrup, AJ Farmer, Isaac Barr, Laeloni Tobey, Shanden Camas, Christopher Scott and Treal Scott.
McDermitt hosts Owyhee on Friday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Sierra Lutheran on Oct. 21, at 1 p.m.