Game Time Blog

By DAVE UTNIK

Welcome to the News & Messenger’s Northwest Region Division 6 semifinals edition of the Game Time Blog.

Game: Battlefield at Hylton

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Weather: Seasonably cold.

PREVIEW

HOW THEY GOT HERE: The visiting Bobcats defeated Gar-Field 17-`14 last weekend. The top-seeded Bulldogs earned a first round bye courtesy of their first-place finish in the Cardinal District.

HARRY OR HYLTON? Opening weekend for Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 1 appears to be a bigger draw than the undefeated Bulldogs. Plenty of seats are still available.

SECOND CHANCEBattlefield has less than fond memories of its last trip to Dale City. The Bobcats blew a 14-point lead and lost 19-14—snapping their 33-game winning streak.

AND AWAY WE GO:  Hylton will receive the opening kickoff.

THREE AND OUT: Dominique MIller overthrew a pair of receivers by at least five yards on the first series. The Bulldogs gained two yards and were forced to punt.

DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS: The scoreboard at Hylton is not working for a regional semifinal game. There is no game clock. The field isn’t so great either. It sort of has that Osbourn Park “brown-is-the-new-green” look.

BOBCATS STRIKE FIRST Nagee Jackson put Battlefield ahead on a 6-yard first-quarter run. Battlefield has dominated so far, much like the first half of the regular season meeting between these two teams.

BOBCATS STRIKE SECONDBobo Beathard caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Swingle, giving Battlefield a 14-0 lead and confirming coach Mark Cox’s belief that an adequate part-time passing game is better than a great full-time running game. So far, so good on that strategy. It’s still the first quarter.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
Battlefield 14, Hylton 0

THE DAWGS ARE LOOSE Dominique Miller just found Mike James in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown reception. The Bulldogs are on the board. Battlefield 14, Hylton 7.

WHERE’S THE D? So how is it that Hylton can’t stop a passing play? The Bobcats are fairly predictable. Devon Greene hands the ball off, unless its second ot third and long. Otherwise, Swingle does the passing. Yet Battlefield’s receivers are getting wide open. Of course, Hylton hasn’t done anything to stop Beathard on the ground either.

WHO NEEDS A RUNNING GAME? .... when you have sophomore Ryan Swingle behind center flipping passes like they are McDonald’s cheeseburgers. Swingle just put Battlefield ahead 21-7 with a 28-yard TD pass to Chris Windle. This is Webster’s definition of revenge. Swingle 6 for 6, 138 yards. The Bulldogs weren’t ready for that.

ALL BOBCATS Battlefield is in scoring possession yet again, courtesy of an interception by senior Quantray Wilkerson.

RANDOM QUOTE: “It’s not working.“—Hylton fan after Battlefield took a 28-7 lead on a Nagee Jackson 7-yard run. 4:42 left in the first half. That is one astute observation.

THIS GAME IS SO OVER: The deffending Northwest Region Division 6 champions are playing arguably their best game of the season. The Bobcats are very comfortable with the postseason. Andrew Smith just picked off Dominique Miller, giving Battlefield the ball 1st and goal at the 9.

OR IS IT? The Dawgs finally got a break. Battlefield kicker Jason Hoepker missed wide on a 27-yard field goal attempt and Hylton is on the verge of making it a two-TD game following two long pass completions by Dominique Miller to Mike James and Iric Harris.

FOUTH DOWN DECISION 4th and goal, down 28-7. The Dawgs will go for it.

SO CLOSE: But Miller threw incomplete.

YEAH, IT’S OVER: 28-7 Battlefield at the half.

AND A SOPHOMORE WILL LEAD THEM: Ryan Swingle for class president. He’s going to be that popular after the game he’s having tonight. Mark Cox may want to just make him the full-time QB. No offense to Devon Greene, who is a fine option QB, but the Bobcats are far superior with Swingle on the field. Nobody outside of Haymarkey had even heard of this kid before. But everyone will know him now. He’s a boy wizard with a lightning bolt arm who has thrown three touchdown passes.

YEP, THAT WOULD BE THREE: Swingle’s slant pass to Darion Duncan went 62 yards for a Battlefield touchdown. One possession into the second half it’s 35-7.

THE COMEBACK BEGINS? Dominique Miller has the Bulldogs thinking about a comeback after connecting with Jaleel Dukes for a 7-yard touchdown pass to cap Hylton’s first drive of the third quarter. The score is now Battlefield 35, Hylton 14.

SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THERE’S A CHANCE: Defensive end Manny Whea’s sack of Ryan Swingle on a blitz gave Hylton the stop it desperately needed if it wants to get back in this game. The Dawgs will get the ball back on a punt.

IT WAS A SLIM CHANCE AND NOW IT’S GONE: Hylton’s “drive” lasted all of three plays, four if you count the punt. Battlefield has the ball back at the Bulldogs’ 38.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER:
Battlefield 35, Hylton 14

THE BEAT DOWN CONTINUES: Nagee Jackson’s 5 yard TD run has given the Bulldogs a 42-14 lead. It’s the Bobcats’ third-highest scoring game of the year. They dropped 54 on Heritage and 44 on Stonewall Jackson.

COLONIAL FORGE IS NEXT: The Northwest Region Division 6 championship game will be at Colonial Forge next weekend.

PILING IT ON: 48-14. Terrell Tapscott just threw another 6-spot on the Hylton D. The PAT missed.

AND IT’S FINALLY OVER: Battlefield 48, Hylton 14. Next stop, Colonial Forge.