In Saturday night’s semifinal game the Bulldogs held off the Maurauders 34-14 to continue their undefeated streak.

The team built up a 20 point lead in the first half, and as halftime approached it seemed like Dedham might remain scoreless, but Old Rochester let up two touchdowns before thwarting a final drive that might have evened the score.

Both sides started off the game with strong defensive play, and neither team scored in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs started off the second quarter much stronger on offense, as Desmond Dias scored just 46 seconds in to the quarter. Cole McIntire scored on a five-yard pass following a 51-yard run which set up the play.

Will Garcia also managed to score in the first half, while ORR’s defense held off the Marauders from scoring at all.

But as the final minutes of second quarter ticked away, Dedham inched toward the end zone and scored just before halftime.

The third quarter opened with Dedham possessing the ball, but the Bulldog’s Camden Brezinski forced a fumble and ran it to the 20 yard line, quickly giving the bulldogs a first and 10.

A pass to Noah Maxwell brought the ball just four yards from the end zone, setting up another McIntire touchdown. An incomplete conversion set the score at 26-7 midway through the third quarter.

Though the Bulldogs recovered a fumble and gained possession of the ball at 2:13, the the Marauders defense kept them from moving past the 40 yard line for the rest of the quarter.

About midway through the fourth quarter, Dedham scored again. A failed onside kick, however, handed the ball back to the bulldogs.

ORR moved the ball down the field incrementally before Desmond Dias ran the ball into the end zone for his second score of the night. The Bulldogs succeeded in a two-point conversion, putting the scoreboard at 34-14, where it stayed as the clock ran down the final few minutes.  

“The kids did a great job, and I’m very proud of their work and effort. We executed what we were supposed to do,” said Head Coach Justin Kogler.

The win advances the team to another championship game against Ashland (8-1) next week.