CONCORD, N.C. – Explosive offensive plays backed by a stout defense is synonymous with Dudley football.

So are deep runs through the postseason.

In a third-round battle of unbeaten programs, the Panthers held Jay M. Robinson off the board for the final 46:05 to give its offense time to catch up in the fourth quarter.

Three scores in the final period punched Dudley’s ticket back home to Greensboro for round four. The 20-7 victory improves the Panthers’ record to 13-0.

A blocked punt on the game’s first drive gave the Bulldogs their best field position of the night. With the opposing defense instantly on its heels, Jon Bissonnette kept an option run and punched it in from 6 yards out for an early 7-0 lead.

That score held through the end of the third quarter. With both defenses shining at their brightest, Jacquez Crawford took a shot at the endzone on the first play of the fourth.

The pass was Crawford’s first attempt of the second half and it fell beautifully into the hands of C.J. Neely who came down with the football over his shoulder.
Dudley had broken through to tie things at 7-7 and seize momentum.

Jalile Elliott and Jordyn Ratliff made big tackles in the backfield to flip the field back to the offense quickly.

Crawford found Koredell Bartley for a 3rd and 15 conversion to navigate the Panthers inside of the 20.

Brayden Jeffries gave Dudley the lead for good with a 6-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Nasir Newkirk in the back corner of the endzone.

All the Panthers needed to do was protect its newfound 14-7 lead with 6:04 left on the clock.

Jay M. Robinson darted down to the 19-yard line on the strength of a run from freshman Ennis Stiles. Bissonnette scrambled to the 4, but the Bulldogs were stonewalled from there.

Dudley’s defense forced a turnover on downs. On fourth and goal, defensive back Le’Ezra Brown got his hand on a crucial pass break-up in the endzone.

Needing a first down to run out the remaining clock, Bartley veered right on 3rd-and-4 before being greeted with 90 yards of clean air ahead of him.

The house call gave Dudley a 20-7 lead and erupted the road sideline.

Robinson’s offense got the ball back one final time, but Bissonnette’s first pass attempt was picked off by Newkirk to seal the victory.

Dudley will host round four of the playoffs. 8-seed West Charlotte will be the Panthers’ opponent.