Rockets Soar Over Bulldogs
This is a story I wrote while covering a high school football game for the Columbia Daily Herald in Columbia, Tennessee. It was published on October 12, 2003.
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CHAPEL HILL - Chapel Hill's Forrest Rockets got a seven-yard touchdown run from Matt Byrd with 1:27 left to edge Columbia Academy, 21-14, Friday night for a spirited homecoming victory.
With the stands overflowing despite steady rainfall, Chapel Hill improved to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in Region 6-1A. Columbia Academy falls to 1-6 and 0-6 in the league.
The two teams were closely matched, with both teams struggling in the past few weeks. The Rockets came to the field with a four-game losing streak, while the Bulldogs had lost their last five contests.
Several fumbles by each team marked the first quarter, as the rain made gameplay difficult. The Rockets lost three of their four fumbles in the contest, while the Bulldogs lost their lone fumble.
The first touchdown came with 3:30 left in the first quarter, when Columbia Academy's Tyler Boshers made a 38-yard dash for the end zone. G.T. Podgorski added the extra point.
The Rockets made good use of their next possession, reaching the end zone in five plays with Matt Byrd finishing the drive in a dramatic dive through the Bulldog defense from the CA 1. With 1:57 left in the first quarter, the extra-point attempt was no good, leaving the score at 7-6.
The second quarter began with the Bulldogs punting the ball to the Rockets, and the Rockets trying to move the ball through the air as Matt Byrd tried to connect in a series of four passes, finding his target with Brock Dugger for a 14-yard pass.
Returning to the ground, Byrd moved the ball steadily in a series of rushes culminating in his second touchdown of the evening. This time, the Rockets opted for the two-point conversion and scored when Adam Todd ran the ball into the end zone with 9:39 left in the half.
For the remainder of the first half, the two teams jockeyed for field position without much success, and the score remained 14-7 at halftime.
The Bulldogs returned to the field after halftime with a much more aggressive strategy, resulting in more fumbles on the part of the Rockets, who turned the ball over on downs on their opening drive.
Brandon Heichelbech recovered a Rocket fumble after the Bulldogs had been forced to punt, giving CA the ball at at the Rocket 8-yard line.
Three plays later, the Bulldogs made their second trip to the end zone with a 10-yard pass from Seth Anderson to Podgorski, who kicked the extra point as well for a 14-14 tie with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Continuing to keep up the pressure, the Bulldogs controlled the Rockets for most of the third quarter as Chris Collier recovered another Chapel Hill fumble at the 49.
However, the fourth quarter saw a regrouped Rockets squad dominating the field, taking advantage of the Bulldogs penalties and pounding the ball down the field.
A Jeremy Lamb interception gave Chapel Hill the ball back, but Bulldog Brian Morton recovered an ensuing Rocket fumble.
Columbia Academy was unable to take advantage, punting the ball back with just under five minutes left to play.
With 1:27 left in the game, Kevin Grubbs ran the ball seven yards into the end zone to score the final touchdown of the night. The extra point by Will Bowman brought the score to 21-14. The decisive drive covered 45 yards in seven plays.
The Bulldogs began their final drive with excellent field position at the 50-yard line, but an interception by Jeremy Lamb gave the Rockets the ball and enough time for the clock to run down.
Chapel Hill held a 288-201 yardage edge in the contest.
Podgorski led Columbia Academy with six rushes for 84 yards, three catches for 22 yards and a TD as well as two PAT kicks.
Anderson completed 4-of-11 passes for 34 yards with a TD and a pair of interceptions for the Bulldogs.
Chapel Hill finished with 262 rushing yards, led by a 138-yard effort on 12 carries from Adam Bunty. Kevin Grubbs added 62 yards on 14 rushes for the Rockets.
Brandon Heichelbech and Brian Morton were among the CA players making a fumble recovery, while Jeremy Wright, Chris Collier and Logan White were each credited with five tackles to lead a balanced Bulldog defensive effort.
Jeremy Lamb had a pair of interceptions for Forrest, while Nick McDonald posted a fumble recovery for the Rockets.
Four of CA's six losses have been by single digits.
The Bulldogs travel to winless Cornersville (0-7, 0-6) on Friday as they face their second straight Marshall County foe. Cornersville has been shut out the last four weeks and in five of their seven contests.
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CHAPEL HILL - Chapel Hill's Forrest Rockets got a seven-yard touchdown run from Matt Byrd with 1:27 left to edge Columbia Academy, 21-14, Friday night for a spirited homecoming victory.
With the stands overflowing despite steady rainfall, Chapel Hill improved to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in Region 6-1A. Columbia Academy falls to 1-6 and 0-6 in the league.
The two teams were closely matched, with both teams struggling in the past few weeks. The Rockets came to the field with a four-game losing streak, while the Bulldogs had lost their last five contests.
Several fumbles by each team marked the first quarter, as the rain made gameplay difficult. The Rockets lost three of their four fumbles in the contest, while the Bulldogs lost their lone fumble.
The first touchdown came with 3:30 left in the first quarter, when Columbia Academy's Tyler Boshers made a 38-yard dash for the end zone. G.T. Podgorski added the extra point.
The Rockets made good use of their next possession, reaching the end zone in five plays with Matt Byrd finishing the drive in a dramatic dive through the Bulldog defense from the CA 1. With 1:57 left in the first quarter, the extra-point attempt was no good, leaving the score at 7-6.
The second quarter began with the Bulldogs punting the ball to the Rockets, and the Rockets trying to move the ball through the air as Matt Byrd tried to connect in a series of four passes, finding his target with Brock Dugger for a 14-yard pass.
Returning to the ground, Byrd moved the ball steadily in a series of rushes culminating in his second touchdown of the evening. This time, the Rockets opted for the two-point conversion and scored when Adam Todd ran the ball into the end zone with 9:39 left in the half.
For the remainder of the first half, the two teams jockeyed for field position without much success, and the score remained 14-7 at halftime.
The Bulldogs returned to the field after halftime with a much more aggressive strategy, resulting in more fumbles on the part of the Rockets, who turned the ball over on downs on their opening drive.
Brandon Heichelbech recovered a Rocket fumble after the Bulldogs had been forced to punt, giving CA the ball at at the Rocket 8-yard line.
Three plays later, the Bulldogs made their second trip to the end zone with a 10-yard pass from Seth Anderson to Podgorski, who kicked the extra point as well for a 14-14 tie with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Continuing to keep up the pressure, the Bulldogs controlled the Rockets for most of the third quarter as Chris Collier recovered another Chapel Hill fumble at the 49.
However, the fourth quarter saw a regrouped Rockets squad dominating the field, taking advantage of the Bulldogs penalties and pounding the ball down the field.
A Jeremy Lamb interception gave Chapel Hill the ball back, but Bulldog Brian Morton recovered an ensuing Rocket fumble.
Columbia Academy was unable to take advantage, punting the ball back with just under five minutes left to play.
With 1:27 left in the game, Kevin Grubbs ran the ball seven yards into the end zone to score the final touchdown of the night. The extra point by Will Bowman brought the score to 21-14. The decisive drive covered 45 yards in seven plays.
The Bulldogs began their final drive with excellent field position at the 50-yard line, but an interception by Jeremy Lamb gave the Rockets the ball and enough time for the clock to run down.
Chapel Hill held a 288-201 yardage edge in the contest.
Podgorski led Columbia Academy with six rushes for 84 yards, three catches for 22 yards and a TD as well as two PAT kicks.
Anderson completed 4-of-11 passes for 34 yards with a TD and a pair of interceptions for the Bulldogs.
Chapel Hill finished with 262 rushing yards, led by a 138-yard effort on 12 carries from Adam Bunty. Kevin Grubbs added 62 yards on 14 rushes for the Rockets.
Brandon Heichelbech and Brian Morton were among the CA players making a fumble recovery, while Jeremy Wright, Chris Collier and Logan White were each credited with five tackles to lead a balanced Bulldog defensive effort.
Jeremy Lamb had a pair of interceptions for Forrest, while Nick McDonald posted a fumble recovery for the Rockets.
Four of CA's six losses have been by single digits.
The Bulldogs travel to winless Cornersville (0-7, 0-6) on Friday as they face their second straight Marshall County foe. Cornersville has been shut out the last four weeks and in five of their seven contests.
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