CHICO – The Butte Valley Bulldogs opened their 2009 8-man football campaign against last year’s section runner-up, Champion Christian, prevailing 35-34.

Bulldog Jeremy Lopez rushed for 289 yards on 17 carries, scoring four touchdowns, and eclipsing 300 all-purpose yards, before having to leave the game with a concussion. The sports writers in the greater Chico area awarded Lopez with their player of the week award for their Friday Night Lights section, according to Bulldog coach Jay Allen.

The Bulldogs appeared to have struck first in the game, when Lopez went 55 yards to the end zone, but the TD was negated by a penalty.

Instead, Champion Christian was first on the board via a 50-yard pass play to take the lead 6-0.
The Bulldogs then scored three unanswered touchdowns, all by Lopez, to take a 21-6 lead. Champion Christian scored at the end of the first half, leaving Butte Valley with a 21-12 halftime lead.

Champion Christian was first on the board in the second half, with the teams then exchanging touchdowns until the score was 27-26, with the Bulldogs still in the lead.

Butte Valley scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on what Coach Allen called “a little prayer.” Lopez threw a sweep pass for 57 yards to Colton Struble, who went up over a defender to make the catch and then “scamper into the end zone.”

Lopez suffered a concussion on the kick off and will miss the next game.

Champion Christian cut the lead to a single point with about two minutes to play, 35-34.

Led by Caleb Levesque, the Bulldogs were able to pick up a first down on their ensuing possession and run out the clock for the win.

“It was a great victory to take one from a great Champion Christian team on their own field” said Allen. “However, losing Jeremy for a game will be a huge loss, but we have great players who will find a way to win the next contest. A very satisfying victory after Champion ended our playoff run last year.”

The Bulldogs (1-0) travel to Herlong on Thursday, September 10. Herlong (1-0) pounded Pyramid Lake in its opener, 42-6.