By Brad Greer

Demetrius Market scored on a three-yard run in the first overtime period to give the Pope Bulldogs a 26-20 victory over Coldwater Tuesday night at Pope Junior High.

After Pope scored, Coldwater had four downs from the ten-yard line to tie the contest. Two plays resulted in negative yardage, then on third and goal from 16, Pope got a huge break when  a wide open Coldwater receiver dropped a sure touchdown in the endzone.

The Cougars’ last gasp came on fourth down, but Market intercepted a pass on the two-yard line to end the game.

Pope quarterback Tyler Pogue hit Stevon Hill on a 49-yard touchdown strike with 3:17 left in the fourth quarter. Market added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 20 to send it into overtime.
Coldwater took a 20-12 lead on the last play of the third quarter when Zavier Tate stripped Hill of the ball and raced 45 yards for the touchdown.

Pope took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter on Johnathon McMurry’s 74-yard touchdown run.

Coldwater tied the game at six late in the second quarter when Justin Burge raced 70 yards for the score.

The game did not stay deadlocked for long as on the very next play from scrimmage, Market scampered 70 yards to give the home team a 12-6 lead with 2:57 remaining in the half.

The Cougars knotted the game yet again at 12with 1:08 left in the third quarter when Favion Jones scooped up a fumble and raced 35 yards for the score.

Pope finished the game with 164 yards rushing and 109 yards passing as Pogue was five-of-18 passing and one touchdown. Hill led the receiving corps with three catches for 74 yards while Market and McMurry added one catch each for 22 and 13 yards.

The Bulldogs will close out the home slate Tuesday at 5 p.m. by hosting Coffeeville.