Saturday, November 21, 2009
Football playoffs: Chargers corral Mustangs
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Bath County returned to Eastern Montgomery on Friday night for a spot in the Region C Championship game. The first time the Chargers visited the Mustangs this year they fell 53-27.
Eleven games later, Bath County (8-4) finds itself competing for the Region C crown after edging Eastern Montgomery 31-30 in overtime.
"They outplayed us in the first game," Bath County coach Will Field said.
"Tonight we brought it."
The Chargers defense picked off Mustangs quarterback Shawn Christian three times, came back twice to tie the game and stopped Christian on a two point conversion in overtime for the dramatic victory.
"We knew we had to keep our heads in the game, especially if we wanted to come back and make it a ball game," Bath County running back Dillon Fry said.
Fry had 145 all-purpose yards and added two touchdowns in the win.
The Chargers battled back all game long, getting key first downs, moving the ball down field and converting when most needed. After trailing early, the Chargers managed to swing the momentum to their side.
Bath County found themselves down 16-0 after the first quarter. After touchdown runs by Christian and Brad Wooten, the Chargers fought back to score 24 points in the second quarter, including a 47-yard touchdown catch by Fry from Michael Robertson. Robertson threw for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Neither team managed to score in a second half filled with penalties, key defensive stops and decent punting.
The Chargers won the battle upfront on both sides of the ball.
"We just thought we could mash them a little bit upfront," Field said.
Bath County managed to win the turnover battle and limit big plays.
"I told them if we held on to the ball it would give us a chance to win," Fields said.
Entering overtime, Bath County was up first. The Chargers struck early. Fry took the ball from 3 yards out and ran it up the middle for the score.
The Chargers took the first extra point try of the game and successfully converted. On all six touchdowns scored in regulation, both teams went for two each time.
"When you go first you don't know what you get," Field said. "We wanted them to have to make two plays to beat us."
Down by seven, the Mustangs knew they had a good chance of winning if they could find the end zone one more time. Eastern Montgomery (8-3) scored on their first play as Christian hit Julian Stewart on an out route at the 1. Stewart grabbed the ball toward the sideline and turned in for the score.
The Mustangs then sent out their offensive unit for a do-or-die play.
Christian rolled right looking for his playmaking WR Wooten streaking towards the right. Christian tried to lob the ball over a defender but his touch was off and went over Wooten's head and dropped to the ground, just like their hopes of a region championship.
"Everybody's coverage on the last play really helped us," Fry said.
Even with a bruised team that left everything on the field, Fields knew how big the win was.
"Winning cures all," Field said.
Bath County 0 24 0 0 7--31
Eastern Montgomery 16 8 0 0 6--30
EM -- Christian 1 run (Christian pass from Wooten)
EM -- Wooten 3 run (Shelor pass from Wooten)
BC -- Fry 47 pass from Robertson (Flecker pass from Robertson)
BC -- Brinkley 2 run (A. Newmarker pass from Robertson)
EM -- Wooten 7 pass from Christian (Shelor pass from Christian)
BC-- Smothers 27 pass from Robertson (Fry pass from Robertson)
BC -- Fry 3 run (Brinkley kick)
EM -- Stewart 10 pass from Christian (pass failed)
