Friday, October 12, 2007

The Decatur and Bridgeport high school football rivalry has been lopsided so far this decade as the Eagles won the last five games going into Friday night's 88th game of the series.

Only one of those last five games have been decided by less than two touchdowns. The Bulls put on quite an offensive show in front of more than 7,000 fans at Eagle Stadium Friday night, but it was not enough to end the streak as Decatur held on for a 48-44 overtime victory.

Bridgeport, which scored in the final minute of regulation to tie the game at 41-41, pulled within one defensive stand of winning the game in the first overtime. Kicker Antonio Martinez split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal in overtime.

The Eagles, who have not lost the Battle of Big Sandy since 2001, had an answer. Back-up quarterback Justin Unger ran twice for 18 yards to set up Josh Trant's game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run. Lira was good on the kick and the home side of the field erupted in celebration.

"That was a great game between two very good teams tonight," said DHS coach Kyle Story. Bridgeport did a great job moving the ball. I'm proud of our guys for their effort. We came up with some big plays, forced some turnovers and held on in the end. We never backed down and played for four, well, five quarters tonight."

The District 8-3A opening win allowed Decatur to move to 1-0 in league play and 3-3 for the season. Bridgeport, which has lost two in a row, fell to 0-1 and 3-3 respectively .

The Eagles were one possession away from another potential two-touchdown victory. Trant capped a 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left in the game to put DHS ahead 41-27.

The Bulls were not ready to call it quits. Quarterback Cameron Green orchestrated an 80-yard drive that he ended with a 2-yard TD run to make it a 41-34 contest with 3:02 left to play.

Bridgeport jumped on the ensuing onsides kick for a fresh set of downs. The group turned the fumble into points when Aaron Holt danced into the end zone with 49 seconds left to play. Antonio Martinez was good on the kick to tie the game at 41-41.

"We had our chances. Both defenses were wore down by the end of this one," said BHS coach Danny Henson. "We could had easily folded when Decatur went up by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarterback but we didn't. I'm proud of out boys tonight. It's tough to lose a game that you feel you could have won with one or two plays having gone another way. This will sting until tomorrow then we will realize how well we played. I hope these guys realize that."

Decatur had one last chance before time expired. Bridgeport linebacker Mason Bridwell intercepted Tim Metts near midfield to end the drive and force overtime.

With a combined 92 points and 892 yards off offense, the scoring got started in a hurry. In fact, Bridgeport took the opening possession and marched 85 yards in 13 plays before finding the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Green to James Kirkpatrick to make it 7-0.

The Eagles, who had trouble with Bridgeport's tight pass coverage, answered with a 31-yard field goal by Joe Lira to make it a 7-3 ball game.

Matt Schooling, Fredy Pacheco and Joe Torres forced a BHS punt to set up Decatur's next score. DHS took its first lead with six seconds left in the first quarter on a 3-yard TD pass from Metts to Chad Harrison.

The Bulls, who racked up 441 yards for the night, did not stop before halftime. They answered with 55-yard TD pass from Green to Kirkpatrick to go back ahead 14-10.

Decatur stormed back with back-to-back to scores. Lira was good on a 31-yard field goal and Trant split the defense for a 41-yard TD run to put DHS in front 20-14 with 7:11 left in the half. DHS's Chase Villado, who left the game with an injured knee, recovered two first-half fumbles but the Bridgeport defense stopped both possessions thanks to Zack Bracken, John Torres and a host of others.

Corbin Green made it a new ball game at halftime when he plunged into the end zone with no time left to make it 20-20. Martinez was wide left on the kick.

Bridgeport intercepted Metts on Decatur's first possession of the second half to set up its next score. Holt broke loose for a 12-yard touchdown run to put his team back ahead 27-20.

The Eagles were not fazed by the quick strike. They scored the next two touchdowns on passes form Metts to Harrison. The second score was set up by an onsides kick that caught Bridgeport by surprise.