Game Time Blog

Welcome to the News & Messenger’s opening night “Under the Lights” edition of the Game Time Blog.

By DAVE UTNIK

Game: Forest Park (0-0) vs. Osbourn (0-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

PREVIEW

GETTING STARTED: Greetings from a standing-room only spot in the far corner of the press box at Osbourn High School, where chairs are apparently first-come, first serve and not necessarily made available to the media. The starting lineups are being introduced and, on opening night, the bleacher section for the top-ranked team in the area is more than half empty.

BUZZ WORTHY: Not surprisingly, Dominique Terrell is the last player introduced for the Eagles and he received a warm ovation from a cheering section that used to consider him a rival.

KICKOFF:Osbourn will kick off to start the game, so everyone will have to wait at least a couple of plays to watch Terrell take a snap. Of course, he also starts at defensive back so, who knows, maybe he’ll pick off a pass.

LATE ARRIVALS: It still isn’t anywhere near a sellout, but the bleachers are starting to fill out a little bit. The wide open spaces are no longer so obvious.

SHOWTIME: The Forest Park offense did about what everyone expected on its first possession—a couple of penalties and a punt—and now it’s time for the Dominique Terrell show to truly begin.

THE BLOWOUT BEGINS: It took three plays for the Eagles to go 30 yards for the game’s first touchdown. Robert Carter scored on a 1-yard run. 8:38 to go in the first quarter, 7-0 Osbourn. The scoreboard says 20-0. That will happen eventually I’m sure.

UPDATE: The first pass of the Terrell era at Osbourn goes to Timmy Keith for a touchdown. 6:41 left in the first quarter, Osbourn 14-0. 

MORE OSBOURN: The Eagles’ single-wing offense is at the 1-yard line yet again. The poor Forest Park defense doesn’t have a chance. This could get really lopsided if Terrell stays in the game more than one half.

RUN FAST, SCORE, REPEAT: Ah, there’s that 20-0 score we’ve been waiting for. The Eagles are going to wear out that cannon they shoot off after touchdowns. Terrell dove into the end zone from 1 yard out and the extra point now makes it 21-0. Oh, and it’s still the first quarter.

I THINK THE EAGLES MIGHT HAVE RELAXED: Forest Park just completed an 82-yard touchdown pass play. But, alas, the Bruins missed the extra point. Still, they won’t get shutout tonight. It’s 21-6 and STILL the first quarter.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: A chair has finally arrived via courier. We’re two minutes into the second quarter.

IT’S RAINING FLAGS: Hopefully, this is an opening night aberration, but there are A LOT of penalties—on both teams. Ineligible player downfield, unsportsmanlike conduct, false starts, holding and the usual array of offsides and such. Neither offense is doing much of amything this quarter after the two teams combined for 27 first-quarter points.

QB CHANGE: The Bruins just changed quarterbacks. Senior Bernard Hall has replaced sophomore Joseph Walker behind center. And look at that, Forest Park is right back in the game. Senior Troy Tyler was completely unguarded at midfield and Hall found him for an 84-yard TD. Suddenly, we have a game. If only they can make an extra point. Nope. A two-point conversion pass was knocked down. It’s still a 9-point Osbourn lead at 20-12. But at least it’s getting interesting. 

SO MUCH FOR THE COMEBACK: Terrell just took matters into his own hands, going 44 yards on 4th and inches for an Osbourn touchdown. With the PAT, it’s 28-12. And there are still two minutes left in the first half, which has now taken 75 minutes. This is taking longer than a Red Sox-Yankees game. Only without the Teixeira homers.

HALFTIME: Osbourn 28, Forest Park 12

AND, WE’RE BACK The misdirection offense is on the move again. Osbourn has taken the kickoff and advanced to the 4-yard line in three plays. Two of them invloved Terrell, who gained six on a run and then threw for another 45. It’s first and goal.

IT’S NO LONGER FIRST AND GOAL: That’s because the Eagles have scored again. Robert Carter scores his second TD of the night. It’s 35-12. And it’s about to get worse because Forest Park just fumbled. Osbourn takes over at the FP 21 yard line.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE: The Eagles’ drive stalled at the 30 and Osbourn missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. There’s still 7 minutes left in the third quarter.

NOW IT’S WORSE: Terrell’s 35-yard pass to Lucky Whitehead puts 6 more points on the board. And the PAT makes it 42-12. Still more than 5 minutes left in the third.

HERE COME THE BRUINS: Forest Park benefitted from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the kickoff to begin a drive at the 30 yard line. And the Bruins have scored again on a 4th and 10 pass play. This time the 2-point conversion is good. It’s 42-20 Osbourn. And, yes, it’s still the 3rd quarter. The Eagles should probably be a tad bit concerned about their defense at this point.

MAYBE NOT: Perhaps it doesn’t matter how many points the Eagles give up, Terrell will just get them back and then some. Like he did just now with an open field run that has put Osbourn back in front 49-20. Oh, and it’s STILL the third quarter. 

YIKES!: After picking up another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (with a 29-point lead), Osbourn has just allowed a 60-yard run by FP quarterback Bernard Hall. This is NOT a good defense. The lack of discipline is bothersome as well. The Eagles have to improve in both areas if they want to beat better teams than the Bruins.

UPDATE: A one-yard TD run has put FP on the board again. 26 points against the area’s No. 1 ranked team. Hmm! Hopefully those are second and third-teamers out there. It’s 49-26. At least it’s finally the 4th quarter. 9:26 remains. This game will last well over 3 hours tonight.

AND THERE’S 50: Osbourn will advance as far as its offense can carry it this fall. The Eagles have no problem moving the football. At least not against Forest Park. Whitehead twisted his way into the end zone for another TD to make it a 56-26. 8 minutes to go. 

WHERE’S THE DEE-FENSE? Forest Park has scored again on a short burst by Wallace Fendell. It’s 56-32. We’re 12 points from a combined 100. Whoa. Where’s Joey Lawrence when you need him to drop his “Blossom” catch phrase.

UPDATE: Terrell and Whitehead will get the rest of the night off. Three minutes to go.

AND IT’S OVER: OSBOURN 56, FOREST PARK 32