A slow start and a couple of missed opportunities in the first two quarters put Wylie in a 14-0 halftime hole, and the Bulldogs could never dig their way out in a 34-14 loss to Wichita Falls Rider on Friday at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.
WHS outgained Rider 371-330 and had 21 first downs to the Raiders’ 13, but the visitors took advantage of a Wylie interception and a short field to build a two-score lead just two possessions in, and Bulldogs couldn’t cash in on a couple scoring opportunities before the halftime break.
That left coach Clay Martin’s team playing from behind the rest of the way, and though the Bulldogs twice cut the deficit a single touchdown in the second half, that was as close as they could get in a key District 2-5A Division II loss.