HOT SPRINGS – It was certainly the start of a new era for the Bath County Chargers on Friday night at Carl F. Williams Field.
To be more specific, the Jake Phillips era.
The Bath County Chargers overcame a 14 point deficit to defeat the Covington Cougars 21-20 on Friday night in what was their final meeting.
Jake Phillips who left his position as head coach of the Staunton Storm to go back to his high school alma mater of Bath County High School, picked up his first win as the head coach of the Chargers against his former high school head coach, Chris Jones (CHS).
After being down 14 points in the second quarter, the Chargers would go onto score 21 straight unanswered points to take a 21-14 lead. Their first lead of the game came in the fourth quarter with just over eight minutes left in the game following a Wyatt Campbell rushing touchdown. The two-point attempt was converted as Campbell found an open Caiden Offer to put the Chargers ahead seven points.
Trailing now for the first time, the Cougars rallied down the field and got into the end zone thanks to a Desmond Jordan touchdown.
The play of the game came on the next play. As the Cougars lined up for the extra point, the Chargers rush was able to get through and blocked the potential game-tying extra point.
The Chargers would receive the ball on the ensuing kick off and would be able to run out the clock as the Cougars had already used their three second half timeouts and could not stop the clock. On the blocked extra point, Hunter Waldeck and Kamoy Stone were in the center of the rush for the Chargers.
While the Cougars finish the rivalry with more wins head-to-head all time, the bragging rights of who won the last final meeting belongs to the Chargers.
In the loss, Purcel Turner for the second straight season put together a two-touchdown performance against the Chargers. Both of his scores came during the first half which had put the Cougars ahead 14-0 early into the second quarter.
With the game at 14-0 it appeared as if we were going to get a repeat performance from last season between the two teams where the Cougars controlled most of the game.
Possibly the biggest play of the game came in the second quarter. With less than eight minutes to go in the second half and facing a fourth down, Campbell found an open Offer for a 27 yard touchdown to put the team on the scoreboard for the first time. Following a made extra point the Chargers were right back in the game. Had the Chargers not converted the fourth down play, the Cougars remain ahead by double digits.
The Chargers would get back on the scoreboard late in the third quarter on Campbell’s second touchdown of the game, however, following a penalty by the Cougars which moved the ball to the one yard line, Phillips elected to go for a two-point conversion. On the two-point attempt, Campbell was tackled short of the end zone by Dominick Davis who kept the Cougars still ahead at 14-13.
For the Chargers who had a 2-13 record during the following two seasons, their season opening win does wonders for this young team.
The Cougars are back on the football field this Friday as they host Phillips former team, the Staunton Storm in the teams final home opener at Boodie Albert Stadium. In last years meeting between the two schools, the Storm won 50-26. The Storm were led by then junior, Walker Darby, who went 11-for-22 passing, while throwing for 216 yards and three. Meanwhile, Turner had a 20 yard rushing touchdown for the Cougars in the loss to the Storm last season.
For the Chargers, they’ll host their second straight game to open the season against rival, the Alleghany Mountaineers. The Mountaineers are coming off of a 40-12 victory over Roanoke Catholic on Friday. In last years meeting between the two schools, the Mountaineers shutout the Chargers 31-0. Garrett Via led the game with 94 rushing yard for the Mountaineers, while Hunter Waldeck led the Chargers with 28 rushing yards.
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SCORING PLAYS
First Quarter: Purcel Turner TD, Extra Point Good – CHS 7, BCHS 0 – 5:21
Second Quarter: Purcel Turner 7 YD Rush TD, Extra Point Good – CHS 14, BCHS 0 – 10:11
Second Quarter: Wyatt Campbell Pass TD to Caiden Offer 27 yards, Extra Point Good – CHS 14, BCHS 7 – 7:57
Third Quarter: Wyatt Campbell Rush TD, Two-Pt Try Fails – CHS 14, BCHS 13 – 4:11
Fourth Quarter – Wyatt Campbell Rush TD, Two-Pt Try Successful – BCHS 21, CHS 14 – 8:19
Fourth Quarter – Desmond Jordan Rush TD, Extra Point Blocked – BCHS 21, CHS 20 – 6:05
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