The San Saba Armadillos fell to the Hamilton Bulldogs 14-6 last Friday night at historic Rogan Field. It was a defensive struggle throughout for both squads.Hamilton won the toss and deferred to the second half. Brayden Payne did a “pooch-style” kick to open the game. The ball was covered at the San Saba 40. Behind the running of Sean Argote and two timely receptions by Cosme Diaz, the Armadillos moved close to the end zone but could not punch it in. Rodney Ortiz came on to kick a 24 yard field goal after a 5:44 drive. The kick gave the Dillos a 3-0 lead.The Ortiz kickoff was returned to the Bulldog 24 yard line and Hamilton started a long drive from that point. Using 14 plays, the Bulldogs drove the field for a touchdown. Jared Slack dove over from 1 yard out. Payne added the PAT and the score stood 7-3 in favor of Hamilton. The drive lasted 5:46.The Armadillos got the ball at the 30 after another short kick. San Saba turned the ball over on downs in Bulldog territory after keeping the ball for another 4:43.Hamilton lost control of the ball at the San Saba 30 when a fumble was recovered by Michael McKinnerney.The Dillos soon punted back to the Bulldogs, but Juan Ortega got the ball back for San Saba with an interception at the Bulldog 43.San Saba drove inside the 10 yard line again but settled for a 25 yard field goal by Ortiz to make the score 7-6.The ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for the touchback and the ball was placed on the 25 yard line. Hamilton ran the remaining 0:39 off the clock for the 7-6 lead at halftime.Hamilton started with the ball in the second half. The Bulldogs punted the ball and pinned San Saba deep in its own territory at the 17 yard line.The Armadillos drove all the way down the field. A penalty pushed the ball back to the Bulldog 20 on 2nd down. A pass from Jarrett Mathis to Sean Argote appeared to be a completion near the goal line but one official ruled no catch after another had ruled it a catch. The ball was returned to the 20. Mathis was sacked on the next play and the 45 yard field goal attempt by Rodney Ortiz failed because of a bad snap. Hamilton returned the low kick to the Bulldog 47. The Armadillos had run 6:44 off the clock.Two plays later Christian King raced around the right side for a 46-yard score. Brayden Payne added the Pat and the score was 14-6.The next Armadillo drive ended when Garrett Hartranft was hit hard and the ball came out. Hamilton fell on it at the Bulldog 30.The Dillo defense quickly forced a punt and San Saba started at the Dillo 39.Sean Argote got tough yards on the drive, but was all for naught when Riley Reich intercepted a Mathis pass in the end zone for a touchback.On first down, Hamilton was penalized for an illegal block and the ball was pushed back to 10 yard line. On the next play, quarterback Cody Richmond got around the left side for an apparent 90-yard touchdown. The play was called back at the Armadillo 38 because a Hamilton player was flagged for “taunting” a Dillo player. The ball was placed at the Bulldog 47 after the mark off. Hamilton ran the remaining time off the clock for the tough 14-6 win.Argote led the team in rushing with 149 yards on 35 carries. It is the most carries in a game by an Armadillo since Sean Smith had 36 carries for 298 yards against Johnson City in 2001. Garrett Hartranft added 27 yards, Cosme Diaz gained 13 yards on end sweeps and Jarrett Mathis chipped in 11 yards. Diaz collected all 5 receptions from Mathis totaling 63 yards.The district had mixed success as Goldthwaite fell to the Eastland Mavericks and Hico lost a close game to Palmer. De Leon and Santo posted wins over Meridian and Olney respectively.This week has Hamilton traveling to De Leon, Santo entertaining Perrin-Whitt, Hillsboro going to Hico and Goldthwaite has perennial power Mart coming to town.The Armadillos drive to Mason to take on the defending 1A div 1 state champions at the PuncherDome. Mason comes into the game with a 4-0 record. Kickoff is set for 7:30 in Mason.