For as long as the Bulldogs could remember, they have beaten Fulton.

Mexico vs Fulton Photo Gallery

Mexico improved its overall record in the 54 Bowl rivalry to 65-62-6 with a 21-14 win on Friday at Hawthorne Heights in Mexico but have now won 13 straight. The Bulldogs (3-3) gained an advantage out of a halftime score that was tied at 7 with two touchdown runs by Drew DeMint.

Head coach Steve Haag said he has been the head coach for about 11 years and has beaten Fulton every year in that span. Fulton (0-6) hasn’t taken the 54 road sign trophy since 2012 but have been competitive with narrow losses the last two years, falling short 28-27 last season.

“Over the years, we’ve just had some better kids,” Haag said. “Luckily, hopefully I’ve been able to guide them a little bit. Fulton has always been tough. Even when we had outstanding teams, Fulton would battle back and make it close. Both sides play with passion. You can feel the intensity when you’re down there on the field.”

Haag said it is special every year because of the emotion brought to the field every year and that is largely because of how much it means to the players. Fulton gained some confidence after decreasing the deficit to one touchdown with less than three minutes left in the game. Mexico recovered an onside kick before running out the clock.

Daunte Cline is one of Mexico’s seniors that has been part of four 54 Bowl wins and feels fortunate to have returned in time for this year’s edition. Cline has been out all year with a dislocated knee so last week was his first game back. To end the first half, Cline sacked quarterback Jaden Galbreath to show he hadn’t missed too much of a step.

“Coming back to a game like this, I was so hyped,” Cline said. “I was ready all week long, getting back to practice, lifting, squatting and all that. I was so ready for it. It was so exciting to have my teammates there to hype me up, and it’s everything I wanted.”

For Cline, playing in the game has been special for the pride of his school but also family. He said he has family in Fulton such as his brother, sister, and his nieces and nephews so the rivalry runs that deep for him.

“It’s just so much excitement,” Cline said. “I have family in Fulton, and I just love playing them.”

Mexico totaled 251 yards rushing, including 82 by DeMint, 53 by Peyton Hoover, 46 by Kaden Benne and 34 by Korbyn Dorsey. In the first half, Dorsey ran for a touchdown.

Galbreath ran for the touchdown late in the fourth quarter but threw for 127 yards on 11-for-20 passing. The Hornets had two different passing plays that went for at least 20 yards, including a 30-yard strike to Qailen Chambers to set up that late touchdown near the goal line. Mexico had to make sure Galbreath wasn’t allowed as much breathing room to be able to pass for first downs, mostly like he did in the first half.

“I don’t think they were a powering team with their offensive line overpowering you so they their quarterback got outside,” Haag said. “It is understanding they have so many wide receivers, bringing a guy out of the backfield, and sometimes there are some miscues there of who has who and we’re a little late to the ball. He’s athletic enough where he can keep the play going.”

The game was tied at 7 at halftime and wasn’t broken until DeMint’s first touchdown with about four minutes left in the third quarter. Fulton intercepted the ball on a jump ball near the goal line, but Mexico was able to regain the ball with a short field. Then the lead grew to two possessions.

Neither side was able to gain that advantage for a while in the game. Haag said forcing Fulton’s offense off the field helped the offense gain more possessions and put the burden on Fulton to come back late.

“We really only had two series in the first half,” Haag said. “The third series, we had to get rolling and had 80 yards to go with two minutes and 30 seconds, but we’re just not that type of offense. We need to get the ball more so we have to get off the field on defense.”

Haag said Mexico having two quarterbacks is “a good problem to have” as they went to Charlie Fisher in the first half and Kaden Benne mostly in the second half, just as planned. They each bring an athleticism that brings a threat of them running with the ball. He said that happened at times as did them moving the ball with the option offense.

“Charlie and Kaden are pretty much equal,” Haag said. “They both do things well and both have improvements to make. Charlie did a good job in the first half running the option. Kaden did OK and did a couple runs there, but he needs to see the option a little bit more. They both did good things tonight.

Mexico hosts North Central Missouri Conference foe Kirksville (6-0), who knocked off Class 4 No. 4 Hannibal 16-15 last week and moved up to No. 3 in the state polls this week, at 7 p.m. Friday.