Nearly a decade in the making for St. Cloud

Bulldogs use fast start, run game to beat Tohopekaliga, 44-21, win District 7A-10 title

  • "Hit 'em low, hit 'em high": St. Cloud linebacker Chase Gilbert (11) takes to the air and Bryce Williams (5) goes to the ground to bring down Tohopekaliga's Tre Punter in Friday's 44-21 Bulldogs win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
    "Hit 'em low, hit 'em high": St. Cloud linebacker Chase Gilbert (11) takes to the air and Bryce Williams (5) goes to the ground to bring down Tohopekaliga's Tre Punter in Friday's 44-21 Bulldogs win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
  • St. Cloud's Bryce Williams steps in front of another Tohopekaliga pass, providing the defense the Bulldogs needed to beat Toho and all but claim the District 7A-10 crown. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
    St. Cloud's Bryce Williams steps in front of another Tohopekaliga pass, providing the defense the Bulldogs needed to beat Toho and all but claim the District 7A-10 crown. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
    St. Cloud's Jaden Irons (1, left) and Stacy Taylor celebrate after another interception in the Bulldogs' big win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

    St. Cloud's Jaden Irons (1, left) and Stacy Taylor celebrate after another interception in the Bulldogs' big win. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

    By Taylor McFee
    For the News-Gazette

    The St. Cloud Bulldogs all but locked up the District 7A-10 football championship with a convincing 44-21 win over the Tohopekaliga Tigers Friday at Tom Gannarelli Field.

    Running back Cameron Dalton powered the ground game with three rushing touchdowns, setting the tone offensively. Defensively, it was Bryce Williams doing the damage, snaring two of the unit's three interceptions and returning them for a score, and recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchback.

    St. Cloud (6-2, 2-0) can do no worse than tie for its first district title since 2016, and beat Lake Nona, who can get to 2-1 in district by beating Toho (4-4, 1-1) next week. The Bulldogs can win the title outright next week with a win in the Soldier City Classic against rival Harmony (4-4, 0-2) who beat Celebration, 28-16, Friday. It all comes with a playoff berth.

    "I'm just so incredible proud of these kids, these four-year guys like Cameron, Bryce, Shawn Eplin, Tyler Lambert, Santiago Ochoa, Marshall Carter, Demetrius Hollingsworth," said SCHS Coach Mike Short, who's also in his fourth year at the helm. "I'm not going to say they've bought in, because they show it to us coaches all the time. Now they've proved it on the field, making big plays in big games."

    St. Cloud put Friday's win away early, taking a 27-0 lead. Dalton scored his first two touchdowns 11 minutes into the game, quarterback Jeremiah Lattier hit tight end Owen Sullivan on a touchdown pass, and Williams snared his first pick-six with five seconds left in the quarter.

    Williams' fumble recovery for a score kept the Bulldogs well in front, taking a 30-7 halftime lead that wasn't seriously threatened.