Game Time Blog

By DAVE UTNIK

Welcome to the News & Messenger’s Under the Lights district championship showdown edition of the Game Time Blog.

Game: Gar-Field (6-2, 4-0) at Hylton (8-0, 6-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Weather: COLD with a chance of frozen meatballs. Really, it’s practically winter.

PREVIEW

AS GOOD AS IT GETS?: What does it say about the Cardinal District that eight weeks into the season Gar-Field is playing for first place. Apparently, mediocrity is the lone requirement to contend for a championship in this district. The Indians have that covered. Right now, they are a playoff team. If the Northwest Region is this weak, why are there six teams going to the playoffs? Truly, only four are deserving. Hylton is one of those. The Bulldogs are a legitimate undefeated team and appear to be approaching the same class as Colonial Forge and Osbourn.

DOMINATING DOMINIQUE: With all the fuss that’s being made over Osbourn’s Dominique Terrell, it’s easy to overlook Hylton quarterback Dominique Miller. That would be a mistake. In his first season as a varsity QB, the senior has thrown 16 touchdown passes.

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED: They should probably go ahead and crown Dominique Miller Homecoming King. He’s thrown for a touchdown pass and picked off another. The Bulldogs lead it 7-0 in front of a capacity crowd at the Dawg Pound. He’s completed 12 of his first 15 pass attempts.

MAKE THAT TWO TOUCHDOWNS: Miller has thrown his second TD pass of the night, though the scoreboard isn’t working at Hylton so there’s no way of knowing how much time is left. We are somewhere in the second quarter and it’s 14-0 Hylton.

FALSE START, TAKE 4: The Indians can’t seem to find any sort of rhythm on the offensive line. The Bulldogs might have something to do about that. Gar-Field has four false starts.

SACK ATTACK, TAKE 3: And they just gave up their third sack. G-F quarterback Ryan Mason has minus-25 yards and probably a few bruises to go with that.

(ANNOUNCER) H-Y-L (FANS) T-O-N: This quaint cheer happens after every first down at the Dawg Pound. And that means we hear it A LOT. Hylton has moved into scoring position again. But alas, Patrick Novak couldn’t convert a 30-yard field goal attempt. That’s one H-Y-L T-O-N we will have to miss out on tonight. Don’t fear, there will be plenty more. But they will be in the second half because it’s time to introduce the Homecoming court.

HALFTIME: HYLTON 14, GAR-FIELD 0:

STAT ATTACK: Hylton quarterback Dominique Miller is 14 for 20 for 93 yards and 2 TDs
                        Receiver Iric Harris and Jaleel Dukes have four catches for 35 yards

                        Gar-Field quarterback Ryan Mason is 2 for 9 with one interception and a whole bunch of sacks
                        The Indians only first downs have come courtesy of two Hylton penalties. That equals the same number of punts they’ve had blocked.

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT: Drum roll please—And the winner is….... Stephanie Gutierrez. The senior princess is now a homecoming queen.

THAT’S A NEW ONE:  On the second half kickoff, Gar-Field was penalized for “sideline interference.“ A 15-yard penalty that moved the ball from the 35 yard line back to the 20. That will be another first down the Indians don’t pick up.

IT’S HYLTON’S TURN: As expected, Gar-Field punted. The Bulldogs will take over at their own 34 yard line.

THREE AND OUT: The Bulldogs didn’t do much with that possession, losing a couple of yards and then punting. Gar-Field has another chance to rally.

WRONG RECEIVER: Ryan Mason’s first-down play-action pass was as good as a punt. He threw into double coverage and Iric Harris picked it off at the 8 yard line. Hylton takes over deep in its own territory.

THAT TAKES SOME GUTS: Hylton went for it on 4th and 1 at the 12. Crazy. Gar-Field’s defense would have none of that and the Indians have 1st and 10. Wow. That interception actually worked out pretty well for Gar-Field. Whoda thunk it?

BACK IN THE GAME: Tony Lilly might eventually regret that 4th down decision. Gar-Field has finally scored on a 12-yard run by Shakeem Copeland. It’s 14-6 Bulldogs. Even with a blocked PAT, it’s suddenly a ball game. Can I get an “uh, oh?“

UH, NEVER MIND: Gar-Field apparently has issues with prosperity. A fumbled handoff was recovered by Hylton at the 28. So much for that comeback. The Bulldogs, horrible fourth-down call and all, can probably put the game away with a score here.

MILLER TIME: You knew that was coming, right? Dominique Miller rolled out on third down and threw an off-balance completion to Iric Harris at the 13. That would be another Hylton first down. H-Y-L. Come on say it with me. T-O-N.

UN-SCORE UPDATE: Pat Novak can’t get a break. The Bulldogs picked up a sideline warning and then the Hylton place kicker had his 28-yard field goal attempt blocked. It’s still 14-6 with an unknown amount of time left in the third quarter. The good news for Hylton is that Gar-Field has to go 87 yards to score. That ain’t gonna happen.

AND IT DIDN’T: Another three and out for the Indians. Hylton takes over following a punt that actually wasn’t blocked at its own 42.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: HYLTON 14, GAR-FIELD 6.

KEEPING GAR-FIELD IN THE GAME: The Bulldogs are doing everything they can to make this a close game. Miller was just picked off by Devonte Piggott at the 46 yard line…... A touchdown would amazingly put Gar-Field in front….... Good thing for Hylton that Gar-Field is inept at moving the ball. The Indians have punted yet again.

GUTSY CALL, PART 2: Perhaps feeling that they need to put this game away, Miller faked a punt at the 40 yard line and ran 15 yards on fourth down for a 1st down at the 25.

NOT THIS TIME: The trick play didn’t result in any points, but it backed Gar-Field up to its 16 yard line. Long way to go for the Indians, who take over on downs.

NO WHERE TO GO: Gar-Field has shown no ability to move the football and it has finally cost them dearly. The Indians might have preferred a blocked punt this time considering what Iric Harris just did with it.

WHAT A RETURN: Harris came up with another huge play, this time with a 67-yard punt return for a game-sealing touchdown. With the PAT, it’s now HYLTON 21, GAR-FIELD 6. The Bulldogs have pretty much wrapped up the Cardinal District championship.

ANOTHER HARRIS SIGHTING Iric Harris just intercepted his second pass of the night to effectively seal the Bulldogs ninth consecutive win.

FINAL SCORE: HYLTON 21, GAR-FIELD 6

The Bulldogs are 9-0, 5-0 heading into their regular season finale at Forest Park. Gar-Field is now 6-3, 4-1 with a road game at rival Woodbridge remaining.

That’s all folks. Have a great weekend. Happy Trick or Treating!