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MINERAL RIDGE - The Bulldogs and Rams both had a lot riding on the outcome on their last game of the 2009 season. And they both played like it. In the end the Rams took advantage of numerous Bulldog mistakes to pull out an 18-15 victory.

"These guys have fought all year in games like this," Rams head coach Joe Stevens said.

The Dogs would suffer a blocked punt, an interception, and two fumbles to set up one Ridge score and squander one Bulldog opportunity that would ultimately be the difference in the game.

The Dogs looked to be ready to make a statement when they scored on their first possession of the game. They would take the opening kickoff and march 65-yards on 9 plays to score on a Shane Peterson 20-yard run around left end. Peterson would rush for 113 yards on the night. The extra point gave the Dogs a 7-0 lead just 2:50 into the contest.

The Rams were unfazed as they would answer right back with an impressive drive of their own. They would march 75-yards on 15 plays, taking just under 7 minutes off the first quarter clock to tie the score at 7-7. The Rams would score on a 2-yard plunge by running back Mike Keleman to even the contest.

The two teams would exchange possession before the Dogs would make the first crucial mistake of the game. On a fourth and fourteen situation from their own 21-yard line Zach Kiger of the Rams would block the Trevor Patterson punt to give the Rams the ball at the Bulldogs own 20-yard line.

"When you 18-15 obviously it is (key), it's just a multitude of errors there," Dogs coach Jeff Sharkey would admit.

They would waste very little time as on the fourth play after the block the Rams would punch the ball into the end zone once again. This time it was a 2-yard dive by fullback Kyle Skiba to give the Rams the lead. Kyle Skiba would run a two-point conversion to add to the Rams lead at 15-7 with 7:12 remaining in the half.

With the Rams making another threat late in the second quarter, Bulldogs linebacker Ryan Dilworth would come up with an interception of a Dan Skiba halfback pass on a fourth and eleven play at the Dogs 26-yard line. The turnover gave the Dogs the ball at their own 17 with just 3:24 left in the first half.

The Dogs would make a desperate attempt to try to tie the game up before the half. They would use four Peterson pass and run plays to get the Dogs within striking range at the Rams 7-yard with under 20 seconds remaining in the quarter. Unfortunately Peterson would have his first pass of the season intercepted with only 17 seconds remaining by the Rams Jared Wert at the Rams 1-yard line. They were able to run the ball once to kill the first half with the Rams leading 15-7.

Mineral Ridge would try to put the final nails in the Bulldogs to start the second half when they drove to the Bulldogs 16-yard on their first possession of the third quarter. The Dogs defense would come up with a huge defensive stand when they were able to force a fumble that was recovered by Mike Salyers at their own 21-yard line.

However, the Dogs would shoot themselves in the foot when they fumbled the ball right back to the Rams on the first play from scrimmage. The Rams linebacker Ryan Porter would pounce on the ball at the Dogs 23-yard line, setting the Rams up in great field position. But The Dogs defense would again show their metal when they would force the Rams to turn the ball over on downs at the Bulldogs 18-yard line.

The teams exchanged possessions when the Rams would commit two consecutive penalties that put them in a precarious first and twenty-seven from their own 22-yard line. But Rams receiver Dan Skiba would make a one-handed catch over the middle to pick up 38-yards on a pass play and turn field position completely around.

"I just told our coaches that a great player just made a great play," Sharkey said. "That is the second time he has done that this year."

They would go on to drive to the Bulldogs 10-yard line where the drive would stall. Keleman would then knock in a 27-yard field goal attempt to push the Rams advantage to 18-7.

The Bulldogs would give up as they would take their next possession and drive 67-yards on 8 plays to score on a Peterson to Shane Egresi 20-yard pass play with 8:58 remaining in the game. The Dogs would convert a two-point try with Peterson rushing in to cut the Rams lead to 18-15.

After another great defensive stand, the Dogs would take over the ball on downs at their own 33-yard line with 5:56 left in the game. They would make one last gasp as they drove from their 33-yard line to the Rams 38-yard line on 10-plays. However, after Peterson was forced to leave the game after being shaken up, the Dogs would commit their second fatal fumble giving the Rams the ball back and allowing them to run out the clock to win.

"By my calculations I think we are still going to get in," Sharkey would answer about his team making the playoffs. "I had it down to six things had to happen (to knock the Dogs out)," he would add. "I think we are going to squeak in as a seventh or eighth seed."