MATTAPOISETT — In the first round of the South Coast Conference playoffs with a chance to knock off the undefeated Old Rochester squad, Bishop Stang came up a little short. 

The Spartans gave everything they had and put up three scores in the final quarter, including a 45-yard touchdown pass and a lunging somersault into the end zone. The late game surge was not enough to save a Spartans team that was demoralized after a 27-22 loss to the Bulldogs Friday night.  

“We feel disappointed because we had a chance to win against a fine football team,” said Stang coach Dennis Golden. 

The Spartans’ defensive unit put on a solid performance that was overshadowed by a powerful Bulldogs offensive attack, which put up 345 yards on the ground. 

The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff but were held up on a fourth down conversion by the Spartans. The Spartan offense marched down the field and kicked a 28-yard field goal to take the lead.

In the second quarter, the Spartans were unable to get anything going on offense, as the team’s only venture to the red zone ended in an interception. The Bulldogs overcame its slow start and scored twice in the final minutes of the half.

After a missed extra point, the Bulldogs were up 13-3 at halftime.

Poised to receive the kickoff in the second half, the Spartans were robbed of an offensive opportunity after the Bulldogs caught an onside kick. The Spartans did not take kindly to the move and, in the following few seconds of play, ripped the ball out of a Bulldogs player’s arms, recovering the fumble. 

The Spartans’ first half offensive woes continued into the third quarter. The team was forced to punt the ball back to an energized Bulldogs offensive, which went up 21-3 following a quarterback sneak from the 1 yard line. 

Going into the final quarter of play, it looked like the Spartans were finished. However, after a six yard shovel pass for a touchdown by quarterback Justin Lopes, the Spartans revitalized its efforts. 

The Bulldogs coughed the ball up again 17 seconds later, which lead to the 45-yard bomb from Lopes. After a missed 2-point conversion, the Spartans were behind 21-16.

On the following drive, the Bulldogs milked the clock before scoring on a Desmond Dias touchdown run. With just over three minutes to go, the Bulldogs were up 27-16.

On what would be the final Bishop Stang drive, the Spartans drove down the field and scored on run by Lopes who leapt head over heels into the end zone. 

A failed onside kick attempt sealed Bishop Stang’s defeat, but the final minutes of play showed the team has what it takes to play against stronger division opponents.