Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Jeremy Rummel of Eustace rounds the corner for a run against Blooming Grove, behind a block by Nick McKee.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mason Patek of Eustace sidesteps a Blooming Grove tackler while returning a Sept. 8 kickoff during homecoming.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace quarterback Brody Sutton breaks free for a 49-yard third-quarter keeper to the Blooming Grove 8-yard line.

EUSTACE–The Eustace Bulldogs remained winless on the season with their third loss Sept. 8 during their homecoming game against the Blooming Grove Lions, falling 41-10.
A Eustace punt to end their first possession was caught in strong southeasterly winds, which allowed the ball to fall dead at the Bulldog 2-yard line. One play later, a Blooming Grove quarterback keeper and ensuing extra-point kick let the Lions to take an early 7-0 lead.
On the next Eustace drive, Blooming Grove picked off a Brody Sutton pass and the Lions eventually cashed in with another Lion quarterback keeper touchdown, this time from 8 yards out with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Another Eustace punt caught in the wind let the Lions set up shop on the Eustace 30-yard line. Three plays later, Blooming Grove threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to increase the Lion lead to 21-0 with five ticks left in the opening quarter.
After that, the Bulldog offense successfully converted a fourth-and-10 play when Jeremy Rummel cradled a Sutton pass and carried it to the Lion 28-yard line. Rummel later scampered 15 yards for a Eustace touchdown run with 7:31 left before halftime. The Kevin Melgarejo extra point cut the Lion lead to 21-7.
After Blooming Grove threw a 51-yard touchdown pass with 5:12 left in the second quarter to take a 28-7 lead, Eustace next mounted another first-half scoring drive that saw Nick McKee bull his way to the Lion 35-yard line on fourth-and-2 from the Blooming Grove 48-yard line with three minutes left on the half.
An incomplete Eustace pass on third down had a defensive holding penalty, which gave the Bulldogs a first down on the Lion 25. Eustace settled for a Melgarejo 34-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining in the first half, which accounted for the 28-10 Blooming Grove intermission advantage.
The Lions added two second-half touchdowns (the extra point was blocked after score No. 2) to secure a 41-10 win. Eustace’s defense stopped Blooming Grove on the Bulldog 2-yard line on fourth-and-goal to minimize the damage.