The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - The Dayton Bulldogs' were still in the game as halftime homecoming festivities began Friday night. But in the end, the St. John Endicott was too much for the young Bulldogs.

The 'dogs scored twice - on two Ben Kleck touchdowns - in the first quarter, and trailed the Eagles only by a missed two-point conversion, 14-12, at the end of one.

After the Eagles took an early 6-point lead, Kleck scored on a 2-yard pass reception from quarterback Cal Martin. SJ-E scored again, adding a conversion, before Kleck broke a run for 45 yards and a second score.

In the second quarter, Martin scored on a two-yard run, but the Dayton defense was getting tired already, as the Eagles scored three more touchdowns before the half and led 36-20 at the break.

"We have been pretty solid in the first half of most of our games, but fatigue and inexperience has really stood out in the 2nd half," Said Dayton Coach Jerry Dedloff. "By the end of the game we had 3 players out of the game because of injuries."

Dedloff said that 14 players suited up for the game, 10 of which were freshmen and sophomores.

"We see continual improvement within our players and team although the score doesn't always show that improvement," he said. "Thankfully these kids can see that too and they know that this experience now is only going to make them better in the future."

In the second half, Dayton's only score was on another 2-yard run in the third quarter. The Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 44-8 in the second half.

For the game, Kleck rushed 14 times for 144 yards, and caught passes for 23 yards. Martin was five for 13 passing, for 79 yards and one touchdown. He gave up two interceptions.

On Friday night the Bulldogs will host Taholah at 7 p.m.