BARBOUR COUNTY – Dashon Cowling had three first half touchdowns and the defense continued its shutout streak as the Pike County Bulldogs defeated Barbour County 58-0 on Friday.

The Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) used their big play offense to strike quickly and never looked bck.

“We came out a little flat, but I think we came around as the game went along,” said Bulldogs head coach Fred Holland. “The kids played good and I am proud of our performance.”

The Jaguars got off to a quick start offensively and had a lengthy drive to start the ball game. After seven plays the Bulldogs retained possession on the Jaguars 45-yard line.

The Bulldogs didn’t hesitate and ran right down the field with a six play drive that included two touchdown runs called back on penalties.

The Bulldogs opted to put the ball in the air, when Senior quarterback Jerrell Lawson connected with Kamari Jackson from 23 yards out to give the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead.

The Cowling show continued this week. After once again holding the Jaguars offensively, the Bulldogs took over at their own 16-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Cowling took the handoff from Lawson and burst right through the middle untouched, racing for an 84-yard touchdown to push the Bulldogs lead out to 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Cowling continued his momentum after the Bulldogs forced a sack. After Cowling had a run of over 40-yards called back, he took a jet sweep around the right edge and tiptoed the side line scoring from 46-yards out once again untouched.

The Bulldogs took a commanding 21-0 lead and never looked back against the Jaguars.

Cowling’s amazing night continued after the Bulldogs defense once again held the Jaguars offense scoreless. On the ensuing punt Cowling took the punt at the Jaguars 45-yard line and sprung by a jaw-breaking block by Lawson who sprung the senior down the sideline for his third touchdown of the first half.

All season long the Bulldogs have been able to capitalize on the big play. “They are very big,” Holland said. “They are something that we work really hard on. All the hard work the guys put in really shows.”

So far the Bulldogs have used the quick strikes to put their opponents down early and often this season. “It’s important for us to come out and jump ahead,” Cowling said. “Just in case we mess up we can come back and we will still be ahead.”

The Bulldogs took the next punt for a touchdown as well but was once again called back on a blocking penalty.

That penalty didn’t slow down the Bulldogs offense, after Lawson completed a 33-yard pass to Jahmir Lampley, Tyrec Johnson cleaned up the rest by rushing the football from 10-yards out to extend Pike County’s lead out to 32-0.

The Bulldogs defense joined in on the fun. With the Bulldogs comfortably out in front Cory Batie picked off a Jaguar pass setting the Bulldogs up once again in Jaguar territory at the 21-yard line.

The quick scoring offense struck again on the very first play. Jackson took the handoff and ran it in from 21-yards out.

Jahzarian Lampley joined in on the action and ran one in from 60-yards out to once again increase the Bulldog lead.

The Bulldog offense was in control the entire game and the Jaguar defense had no answer.

Michael Rumph scooped up a snap that flew over the Jaguar punter in the end zone for another special teams touchdown for the Bulldogs to give Pike County a commanding 52-0 lead with still 1:57 left in the opening half.

The Bulldogs came out after halftime and played most of their reserves including members of their junior varsity team.

The Bulldogs closed out their scoring on a touchdown run by Lampley.

The Bulldogs will host Wicksburg next Friday night at Bulldogs Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m.