There was a lot of fight left in the Dogs late in Monday's third-place game in the AYF Jr. Midget Nationals Championships in Orlando. But much of it was for pride and guts, and they showed plenty.

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The South East Valley Bulldogs fell behind the Oak Grove (California) Renegades just 2:16 in and spent the rest of the game chasing a very big, very fast team, falling 20-14.

Oak Grove had a potent one-two punch. They were a terrific tackling team. And they dominated the line of scrimmage on offense, chewing up chunks of yardage with 10-plus yard runs, including one for 44 and two for 26.

So when the Renegades scored their third touchdown to take a 20-0 lead with 5:56 left in the game, it appeared that was the end of a rout.

Things change quickly sometimes.

Oak Grove,which had to overcome a few penalties throughout the game but were for the most part disciplined, lost their cool down the stretch.

The turnaround started on the first play after the ensuing kickoff. The Dogs pulled out their longest play of the day, a 21-yard throw from Dalton Thorpe to Jack Otting-Crandall, who made a fine fingertip catch. When Oak Grove was called for roughing the passer on the play, SEV was at the Renegades' 15.

The next play was a sack, but the Renegades were whistled for holding. Thorpe then hit Tyree Shivers with a 10-yard TD, and Trystan Griffith's coversion kick made it 20-8.

A holding penalty put a crimp in the Renegades' next series, which ended with an interception by Otting-Crandall with 2:18 left.

SEV started at the Oak Grove 35. Two passes to Shivers gained 18. Thorpe's next pass fell incomplete.

But another roughing-the passer-penalty put the Bulldogs at the Renegades' 29. Shivers took it the rest of the way on the next play, bouncing outside and down the left sideline to make it 20-14 with 1:18 left.

The Dogs were an onside kick away from turning a long day of taking a pounding into an opportunity to tie the game, with momentum on their side. And although the attempt looked like a success for a moment, the ball ended up out of bounds. Oak Grove ran out the clock, taking a knee on the game's final play.