All season long the Mitchell Mountaineers (MHS) has overcome tremendous obstacles to achieve great heights.
But the greatest obstacle faced on the field this season, the Albemarle Bulldogs (AHS) and its tougher-than-a-pine-knot defense, proved too great to hurdle last Friday, Dec. 3. The defending state champion Bulldogs will have a chance to defend its championship and win a fifth title in the last 10 seasons after fending off a competitive and capable MHS squad by a 22-7 final score.
AHS scored on the first offensive series of the game. Following a 41-yard kickoff return by Jaquez Wells, teammate Demetrius Hamilton capped a 7-play, 31-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. The point after touchdown (PAT) by kicker Cory Dick gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with9:23 to play in the opening quarter.
MHS found the going tough against a strong and deep AHS defensive front. The two Mountaineer offensive possessions in the quarter resulted in punts, as MHS mustered just 16 rushing yards and 34 total yards in the period. The MHS defense came to play despite giving up the early score, forcing AHS to punt on its next two series to close out the quarter with the Bulldogs holding a tenuous 7-0 lead.
Mitchell held possession of the football deep in its own territory as the second stanza began. Looking to get breathing room away from its own end zone, the Mountaineers looked to run the football. Running back Shawn Jackson was stacked up on a left side run play near the line of scrimmage at the MHS 10-yard line. During the tackle,Jackson
The Mountaineers were unable to move the football on its ensuing possession and was forced into a three-and-out. The Bulldogs then drove the pigskin 58 yards over 11 plays on a drive that elapsed more than four minutes off the clock. AHS marched as far as the MHS 7-yard line, but the purple line held and forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Dick to extend the AHS lead to 16-0 with6:08 left in the first half.
Both teams exchanged punts before the Mountaineers compiled its most successful offensive drive of the entire contest.
With only2:05 left on the second quarter clock, MHS drove 85 yards over 12 plays. The offense converted a pair of third down plays to keep the drive alive, and benefited from a personal foul late hit out-of-bounds penalty against the Bulldogs on quarterback Justin Hughes. Two plays later Hughes tossed an 11-yard pass into the back corner of the end zone which wide receiver Corey Greene hauled in for a touchdown. The Isaac Edwards PAT cut the Bulldog lead to 16-7 going into the locker room at halftime.
The first half was a defensive struggle with neither team gaining more than 140 yards in total offense.
But the greatest obstacle faced on the field this season, the Albemarle Bulldogs (AHS) and its tougher-than-a-pine-knot defense, proved too great to hurdle last Friday, Dec. 3. The defending state champion Bulldogs will have a chance to defend its championship and win a fifth title in the last 10 seasons after fending off a competitive and capable MHS squad by a 22-7 final score.
AHS scored on the first offensive series of the game. Following a 41-yard kickoff return by Jaquez Wells, teammate Demetrius Hamilton capped a 7-play, 31-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. The point after touchdown (PAT) by kicker Cory Dick gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with
MHS found the going tough against a strong and deep AHS defensive front. The two Mountaineer offensive possessions in the quarter resulted in punts, as MHS mustered just 16 rushing yards and 34 total yards in the period. The MHS defense came to play despite giving up the early score, forcing AHS to punt on its next two series to close out the quarter with the Bulldogs holding a tenuous 7-0 lead.
Mitchell held possession of the football deep in its own territory as the second stanza began. Looking to get breathing room away from its own end zone, the Mountaineers looked to run the football. Running back Shawn Jackson was stacked up on a left side run play near the line of scrimmage at the MHS 10-yard line. During the tackle,
The Mountaineers were unable to move the football on its ensuing possession and was forced into a three-and-out. The Bulldogs then drove the pigskin 58 yards over 11 plays on a drive that elapsed more than four minutes off the clock. AHS marched as far as the MHS 7-yard line, but the purple line held and forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Dick to extend the AHS lead to 16-0 with
Both teams exchanged punts before the Mountaineers compiled its most successful offensive drive of the entire contest.
With only
The first half was a defensive struggle with neither team gaining more than 140 yards in total offense.
With the first possession of the third quarter the Mountaineers advanced to midfield, but was stopped and forced to punt the ball away. With its first series of the half, the AHS offense churned out its only productive drive of the half, an 8-play, 63-yard scoring drive keyed by a pair of pass plays from quarterback Nat Dunlap, one covering 11 yards to receiver Desi Dockery and the other a 21-yard completion to Dick. Hefty fullback Larell Jones capped the drive with a two-yard plunge over the goal line. The PAT kick again failed and AHS held a 22-7 margin with 6:26 to play in the third quarter.
Late in the quarter MHS attempted to convert a fourth down near midfield, but Hughes was sacked by defensive lineman Julius Williams to turn over the ball on downs.
As the final period began the MHS defense again showed its pride and grit, holding the Bulldogs at bay and short of a first down when it attempted a fourth down conversion inside the MHS 30-yard line. Any momentum gained by the stop dissipated quickly, as two plays later a Hughes pass attempt was intercepted by AHS defensive back Montego Baldwin.The MHS defense forced the Bulldogs to punt one final time, but the boys from Ledger were unable to complete a pass play on fourth down with less than two minutes left to play, quelling the team’s final comeback attempt and clinching the victory for the home team.
The Mitchell defense surrendered only 252 total yards to one of the state’s most explosive offenses, but the MHS offense was held to just 115 rushing yards on 37 attempts. Hughes carried the football 18 times for 46 yards, with 36 yards on 11 carries byJackson Hamilton
“We had a great season we will never forget, and I'm so proud of my players and staff,” Mountaineers head coach Russell Barnett said after the game. “We just couldn't move the ball against a great defense. Our defense was on the field the whole game and did a great job, but they were just the better team. We did this with just five seniors and a lot of heart, and our juniors learned some great lessons this season.”
MHS ends its remarkable playoff run with an 8-7 season record and returns a strong nucleus of players for the 2011 season.
Late in the quarter MHS attempted to convert a fourth down near midfield, but Hughes was sacked by defensive lineman Julius Williams to turn over the ball on downs.
As the final period began the MHS defense again showed its pride and grit, holding the Bulldogs at bay and short of a first down when it attempted a fourth down conversion inside the MHS 30-yard line. Any momentum gained by the stop dissipated quickly, as two plays later a Hughes pass attempt was intercepted by AHS defensive back Montego Baldwin.The MHS defense forced the Bulldogs to punt one final time, but the boys from Ledger were unable to complete a pass play on fourth down with less than two minutes left to play, quelling the team’s final comeback attempt and clinching the victory for the home team.
The Mitchell defense surrendered only 252 total yards to one of the state’s most explosive offenses, but the MHS offense was held to just 115 rushing yards on 37 attempts. Hughes carried the football 18 times for 46 yards, with 36 yards on 11 carries by
“We had a great season we will never forget, and I'm so proud of my players and staff,” Mountaineers head coach Russell Barnett said after the game. “We just couldn't move the ball against a great defense. Our defense was on the field the whole game and did a great job, but they were just the better team. We did this with just five seniors and a lot of heart, and our juniors learned some great lessons this season.”
MHS ends its remarkable playoff run with an 8-7 season record and returns a strong nucleus of players for the 2011 season.
