The GMC JC Bulldogs fielded a winning football team in 2009 � and really gave the hometown something to be proud of after Saturday�s spectacular 35-7 win over Lackawanna College (from Scranton, PA) in Milledgeville.

Lackawanna (5-4) has a long history of disappointing opponents on their own turf and set out to do just that Saturday as they intercepted GMC quarterback Chris Hart and returned it all the way for a score to go up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

But like a deranged rattlesnake springing from the brush, the Bulldogs would come to life and strike often Saturday. Once the hail of punishing hits were over, Lackawanna retreated across Elbert Street on the short end of a 35-7 whipping.

GMC JC running back Carlos Ross would get things going for the Bulldog soon after Hart�s earlier pick-six. On fourth down, from Lackawanna�s own four yard line, Hart would pitch the ball to Ross who then busted through an arch of arms and legs to tie the game at 7-7.

The Bulldog sideline then seemed to wake up a bit, and on Lackawanna�s next drive, GMC DOG linebacker Alex Brown would haul in a pass from Lackawanna�s quarterback and race 60 yards for the go-ahead touchdown � a score that would prove to be the decisive one.

�We played real good. I really tried to focus because I knew they weren�t going to run it on us � because we�ve got a really good run defense. So I just knew they were going to try to pass it. We were manned up, and I just played soft on the tight end. The quarterback then underthrew him � so I just made the play,� said Brown after the game. �They did a good job of blocking for me, too.�

Ross, Tobias Palmer and Ronnie Smith all continued to make long, tough runs for the Bulldogs on their next few drives, chewing up the time of possession.

GMC defenders Derrick Shuemake, Antonio Mitchum and Alex Brown would then come up and stop Lackawanna on third and fourth down plays to turn the ball over to the offense. GMC freshman corner Dale Peterman and freshman free safety Demazio Skelton also had impressive performances Saturday, especially when Lackawanna tried throwing into heavy coverage.

The first half would end with GMC JC clinging to a 14-7 lead. But the Bulldogs would come back and claim both the third and fourth quarters to ice the contest.

With 12:05 to go in the third, Hart would execute a brilliant touchdown run on a keeper, but the play was nullified by the stripey officials monitoring the end zone.

A few minutes later, Lackawanna would be driving to tie the game when, suddenly, they dropped the ball on the turf � which was then picked up by GMC freshman linebacker Antonio Mitchum who then took off for six more points and a 21-7 lead after the PAT.

�This was the last game of the year, and we had to prove something to the sophomores. It was the last game, and with us not going to a bowl we had to step up � play a full 60 minutes. We did what we had to do,� said Mitchum. �The offense stepped it up during the whole week of practice and knew what the situation was. Everybody stepped their game up today, and played great.�

GMC�s Evan Kay again did a fantastic job on place kicking, and at the start of the fourth quarter Frank Demery would snuff out a fake punt attempt by Lackawanna to give the Bulldog�s exceptional field position once again, but the offense was forced to punt after grinding out a few minutes.

With 10:38 to go in the game, free safety Skelton would scoop up another mishandled ball by Lackawanna and give the GMC offense another opportunity to shine.

Hart and the ground game would move the Bulldog�s up the field with precision, before the quarterback found sophomore wide receiver Zach Gaddy in the corner of the end zone for a 27-7 lead with 8:15 to go. At this point, GMC was clearly on cruise control, which would allow sophomore Hart some rest so freshman quarterback Tony Guidugli could get some valuable reps.

�I will miss the sophomore class. They put a lot of hard work into the season, and I hate that they will not have the opportunity to finish in a bowl game,� said GMC head coach Bert Williams.

Williams was also proud of his freshmen players for what they demonstrated this season.

�I was proud of our freshmen players. I thought most of them really improved their abilities as the year progressed, and several became our �go-to� guys on both sides of the ball. We have an entire unit of guys on defense who have started a game and who have played a bunch of snaps, so we should have experience and depth on defense next year,� said Williams.