Darryl Freeney scored two touchdowns (and had two more called back because of penalties) and Michael Dugger one as the Bennetts Creek junior midgets rolled to their seventh shutout on Saturday, beating Olive Branch 21-0 at John Yeates Middle School. The Bennetts Creek (7-1) defense kept the Bulldogs from a first down until late in the third quarter, and never allowed them past the Warrior 17.

The Warriors first took possession at the Bulldog 34, and Nathan Lovell dashed around the right end for a 15-yard gain on first down. Freeney reached the 16, and Dugger burst through the left side of the Bulldog line for a touchdown two plays later.

The Bulldogs failed to pass midfield, and Lovell rumbled nine yards to the Olive Branch 41 on first down.

Two plays later, Draindell Bassett tossed a 38-yard strike to Freeney in the end zone, but a pass interference penalty nullified the score.

The Warriors couldn’t get a first down, and Olive Branch took over on its 30. After Dugger stormed into the backfield to stop Jonte Garnger for an eight-yard loss, Freeney picked off an errant Dominique White pass.

He returned it to the four, but a clipping penalty knocked the Warriors all the way back to the 39. But Freeney ripped through for 17 yards over the next two plays, and Dugger (who wears number 21) bolted 21 yards to the two. The Bulldog defense stiffened for the next two plays, but Freeney charged around the left end on third down to make the score 12-0 at halftime.

The stingy Warrior defense held the Bulldogs without a first down to open the second half, and Joshua Lovell returned the ensuing punt 25 yards to the Warrior 46. Though his team was held to two yards over the next three plays, Freeney took another handoff around the left end on fourth down, and didn’t stop until he passed the goal line 52 yards away for the team’s final score.

It was now up to the defense to preserve the shutout. A face mask penalty gave the Bulldogs a first down at their own 48, and White charged 21 yards to the Warrior 27 two plays later – the first time the Bulldogs had made it into Bennetts Creek territory.

Granger and Jennifer Buck racked up three yards, and White charged up the middle for a first down at the 17. But the Warriors pushed the Bulldogs back four yards on the next three plays, and Dugger recorded another sack on fourth down to end the threat.