By CODY PASTORELLA

The News Sports Correspondent

BEAUMONT — The Kelly Bulldog’s defense bent but never really broke in its 23-6 victory over the Houston Furr Bulls on Friday night in Beaumont.

On three occasions in the first half, Furr had possessions inside Kelly’s 10-yard line but could never score.

On their first possession, the Bulls got out of the gate with a quick 50-yard drive only to have it end on the Bulldogs’ eight-yard line by way of a fumble.

The fumble was recovered by Kelly defensive end Dorian Guillory who led his team with eight tackles.

After that turnover, Kelly took over at their own 10-yard line where they marched down the field on an eight play touchdown drive that was highlighted by a 61-yard pass from quarterback Anthony Fazio to wide out Gary Bernard.

Later in the first quarter, Fazio hooked up with Martin Fontenot for a 40-yard catch and run touchdown play that stretched the Bulldogs lead to 13-0, which is all they would really need.

Fazio laid into the opposition all night, throwing for a total of 181 yards with one touchdown on 12 for 17 passing. Along the way he hooked up with eight different receivers.

“We played pretty well but we are still shooting ourselves in the foot,” Kelly coach Mike Long said. “We had five drives in the first half and we only scored on two of those. We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and those kind of things tend to kill drives.

“Lucky for us, our defense kept coming up big around the goaline. But in order for us to be a great team, and I think we can be, we are going to have to limit our mistakes.”

In the third quarter, the Bulls cut the lead to 13-6 with a five-yard touchdown run from tailback Clifton Tony who led his team in rushing with 84 yards on 17 carries.

Furr also found success through the air with wide out Ervin Jefferson who pulled down six balls for 143 yards.

Long said he knew Jefferson was going to be a problem but it never hurt his club too badly.

“At first we tried getting to the quarterback (Jermain Paul) and that didn’t work so we put an extra man deep to cover his side of the field and that didn’t really work either.”

The Bulldogs went on a scoring drought in the second and third quarters but added 10 points in the fourth to seal the deal.

Kelly used seven different guys in the running game because of a nagging ankle injury to Donnie Carona. The running back by committee worked, however.

The Bulldogs ran for a total of 102 yards on 25 carries, highlighted by a fourth quarter, 28-yard rumbling touchdown run from fullback Sean Bean.

Junior tailback Jacolbie Wilson also added 38 yards on the ground with one score that came on his team’s opening drive.

“Carona tried but couldn’t go,” Long said. “Jacolbie kind of got banged up, and he sat out a couple of series.

“We had to make due. It really hurts our offense when we can’t be balanced but we got the job done.”

Now 2-1, the Bulldogs play host to Bridge City next week and Long said that game will be his team’s measuring stick.

“That game will tell us where we really are as a team,” he said. “They are an excellent football team with a great quarterback, and if we can hang with them, hopefully beat them, then we will know where we stand.”