The Bunnell Bulldogs will head out on the road to challenge the Bethel Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Bunnell's defense has only allowed 13 points per game this season, so Bethel's offense will have their work cut out for them.
Bunnell will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any points last Friday, then bounced right back against New Milford on Friday. The Bulldogs claimed a resounding 49-6 victory over the Green Wave. The win continues a trend for the Bulldogs in their matchups with the Green Wave: they've now won three in a row.
Jake Garrigan
| 10/03/25 vs Weston | 152.6 |
| 10/24/25 @ New Milford | 146.8 |
| 09/19/25 @ Masuk | 143.8 |
| 09/26/25 @ New Canaan | 61.1 |
| 09/12/25 vs Wethersfield | 60.7 |
| + 1 more games |
Bunnell can attribute much of their success to Jake Garrigan, who threw for 223 yards and a pair of TDs on only 11 passes. Garrigan's passing game has become a key predictor of the Bulldogs' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-2 otherwise. Keyshon Zimmerman got in on the action too, returning a kick for a touchdown.
Bunnell didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Zaire Williams and Jayden Romero. Romero is also on a roll when it comes to defended passes, as he's now defended at least one in each of the last four games he's played. He got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Bunnell, adding 13 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Zimmerman, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Bethel's offense. They took a blow against Masuk on Friday, falling 36-0. Having soared to a lofty 34 points in the game before, the Wildcats' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Bunnell's victory bumped their record up to 4-2. As for Bethel, their loss dropped their record down to 2-4.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Bunnell has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 209.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Bethel struggles in that department as they've been averaging 195.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Bunnell against Bethel when the teams last played back in October of 2023, as the team secured a 49-0 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bulldogs since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
