Not since 2002 have the Bulldogs started a season by posting a 4-0 record, but on Friday night the football teamed overpowered Greater New Bedford Vocational Regional Technical High School by a score of 35 to 12.

“This is the first real test we’ve had all season,” said Coach Henry Quinlan. The Bulldogs defeated the Bears courtesy of four touchdowns from Richie Philips and one from Hayden Bergeron.

Philips, a junior, also rushed for 166 yards and had 13 carries. In the early part of the season, there were serious doubts that Philips, a key member of the squad, would even be allowed to play.

A Wareham resident, Philips’ eligibility to compete was questioned by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The board had denied Philips the right to play due to questions surrounding his age. Philips, an 18-year-old senior, had played football for four years. Three of those years were with Wareham and this year would be his second with ORR. Athletic association rules prohibit players from playing for five years, but an injury sidelined Philips for much of last year.

Those missed games were considered during the appeal. Philips was allowed to return to the team in early September.

His presence has made a huge difference and the decisiveness of Friday’s win caught Quinlan off guard.

“We did not expect this. We were expecting a dog fight,” he said.

After the game, he praised the players for their toughness.

“New Bedford is a good, quality program and you beat them soundly,” he told the Bulldogs. “Good things are about to happen if you keep up playing like this.”

Back in 2002, the Bulldogs started strong with a 4-0 season when Quinlan was an assistant coach. The Bulldogs have spent the last couple of years re-building. Last year, the team lost five games by a single touchdown or less.

One loss occurred during triple-overtime against Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School, which is the team’s next challenger.

This week, the Bulldogs did not have a weekend game to look forward to. Quinlan said the team will use the time to rest, recuperate, and prepare for the showdown with Dighton-Rehoboth, set for Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Dighton.

Other highlights from Friday’s game include an interception by Raekwon Philips, a 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Richie Philips in the second quarter, and a 12-yard pass from quarterback Hayden Bergeron to his brother Nolen for a touchdown.