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Brian Quijada – Special to The News

The Nederland Bulldogs football team picked up their first loss of the season against the Silsbee Tigers, 37-24, Sep. 13, at Bulldog Stadium.

The Silsbee Tigers got on the scoreboard early just two minutes into the game with a touchdown. A fumble from the Bulldogs would lead the Tigers to Nederland’s one-yard line where they would again go on to score. The Bulldogs ended the first quarter down 14-0, certainly not an ideal start.

Nederland got off to a bad start in the second quarter by allowing a Silsbee field goal just four minutes in. Silsbee’s Julian Brown would go on to intercept Bulldogs quarterback Ayden Sunday, which would set the Tigers up for a scoring drive.

Despite being down 21-0, the Bulldogs would go on to respond with an interception of their own by defensive back KJ Tezeno. With a 40-yard pass from Sunday, Tezeno would then put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard for the first time in the game. Nederland ended the first half still trailing, 24-7.

“It can’t be about what the scoreboard is,” Nederland head coach Scott Rich said. “I mean, that’s the cliche thing, but the reality is that we are trying to train our kids for about six or seven months now that every day is a fight.”

A pair of four-yard-long runs by Nederland running back Hubert Thomas led the Bulldogs to the goal line before he punched in a one-yard touchdown three minutes into the third quarter.

Unfortunately for Nederland, Silsbee would score again just four minutes later, but the Bulldogs would successfully block the Tigers’ field goal.

With just three minutes left in the third quarter, a 60-yard run by Thomas would give the Bulldogs their third touchdown of the game. Nederland would go into the fourth quarter still trailing, 30-21. A long pass from Sunday to Tezeno allowed Nederland to tack on a 30-yard field goal shortly after. The Bulldogs were just a touchdown away from tying the game, but unfortunately, the Tigers would score a five-yard rushing touchdown to seal their win.

“Turnovers, special teams issues, not running the ball very well, not taking care of the ball very well, just shooting ourselves in the foot,” Rich said. “I mean, we played a good football team and you can’t do those things with good football teams.”

Despite the loss, Rich gives his team credit for pushing through and keeping the game competitive.

“I’m proud of our kids for showing some resolve and coming out the second half and fighting. That’s ultimately where we’re trying to get to. I’m trying to get to the level of being in a program that doesn’t have to wait till the second half to start playing good football.”

This game was Nederland’s last on the non-district slate and their record is now 2-1. The Bulldogs are out on a bye-week and return home on Sept. 27, when they face off against Splendora.