The Shadow
When the Bath County Chargers lost to James River in the regular season, Coach Will Fields simply stated, “We’re playing for a region championship now.”
Saturday in Damascus, the Chargers (8-4) and the Holston Cavaliers (10-1) will face off in the Region C playoffs for a third straight year and in the Region C title game for the second consecutive season.
The Chargers rolled the Cavaliers in their first ever meeting in 1995 en route to their first state championship.
In 2007, the Chargers erased a 14-12 halftime deficit to post a 27-20 victory en route to winning the Region C championship before falling to Clintwood in the Group A semifinals.
Last year in Damascus, the Cavaliers held Bath County to just three points – a Jim King second quarter field goal – in winning their first-ever Region C championship, 13-3.
Bath County is coming off an exciting 31-30 overtime win over the Eastern Montgomery Mustangs, who dismantled the Chargers 52-27 in the season opener.
Junior Dillon Fry accounted for 149 yards of total offense and scored the game-winner on a three-yard scoring plunge in the first overtime. Derek Brinkley’s PAT gave Bath a 31-24 lead.
East Mont scored in overtime but quarterback Shawn Christian’s pass intended for receiver Brad Wooten fell incomplete and the Chargers secured
a berth in their fourth straight Region C championship game.
The Chargers are led by senior signal-caller Michael Robertson who has accounted for 1,813 total yards on the year. Robertson has thrown for 1,290 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while rushing for 523 yards and eight scores.
Fry leads the area in scoring with 100 points, while Derek Brinkley is second with 78 points. Fry also leads the area in receiving with 30 receptions for 678 yards and eight touchdowns.
Dana Richmond is Bath County’s leader on the ground with 606 yards andtotes. Richmond is averaging over eight yards per carry.
Holston is led by their big three – John Pratt, Jeffrey Bramlett and Jordan Blevins.
Pratt, the Cavaliers signal-caller, has accounted for 30 touchdowns this season. Pratt has thrown for 1,261 yards and 16 touchdowns on the year, while rushing for 716 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Bramlett _ Holston’s bruising 205-pound running back – has rushed for 1,276 yards and nine touchdowns.
Blevins is one of Holston’s leading receivers but is more known for his play from his linebacker position. Pratt starts in the Cavaliers’ secondary and has picked off a team-high six passes.
The Chargers are led defensively by “Bam” Brinkley and linebacker J.P. Plecker. Brinkley leads the Chargers with 25 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, while Plecker has registered seven stops for loss and four sacks.
Fry also is a key player on the defensive side of the ball for the Chargers as he leads Bath with six interceptions, including two picks in last week’s win over the Mustangs.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 2:30 p.m.
