The Shadow
Narrows, Va.- The Bath County Chargers have been unstoppable this season. They didn’t just win their first eight games; they were dominating and many of the games were shutouts.
Head Coach Jake Phillips and his assistants have molded this group of kids into an unstoppable force where everybody knows their assignments and they work as a team to achieve their goals. The Chargers, before Friday night, had outscored their opponents 470-37. This all added up to a showdown Friday night with a team, that like the Chargers, have had a successful season and were also undefeated in district play. Basically, it was making Friday’s game a winner take all in the Pioneer District.
Bath received the opening kickoff and started deep in their own territory.
Wyatt Campbell got going right off the bat running up the middle for 14 yards and Bath’s first earned first down. The Narrows defense held tough through the first part of the game making Bath earn every yard. After a few short yardage carries, Ethan Bryant broke free for a 12-yard carry and moved the chains for the Chargers. Bath continued making short gains on several plays and through the combined efforts of Bryant and Luke Turner, drove it all the way down to the 4-yard line. As always, this season if the Chargers drive it into the red zone the scoreboard is going to reflect their efforts soon. Campbell took the ball around the end and scored the first points of the game, putting Bath up after Mabe kicked the extra point 7-0.
The Chargers spirits were not lifted for long because Narrows took the Bath County kickoff to the house 74 yards and the Green Wave had their first touchdown. An unsuccessful extra point attempt allowed the Chargers to stay up by one with a score of 7-6, Bath County.
After the Narrows kickoff, Bath County ended up in a fourth down-and-5 situation. Believing in his team’s ability, Phillips went for it, allowing his boys to gain 40 yards on a pass from Campbell to Mabe and getting the first down. That was obviously the boost the Chargers needed because Bath would go the distance in the next three plays handing the ball off to Bryant for gains of 16 and 12, respectively, before his run up the middle for another Bath County Touchdown put the Chargers up 14-6.
The Chargers’ defense played great throughout the whole game and had the Green Wave in negative yard situations much of the night. Credit must be given to Mabe for multiple tackles for losses and sacks, not to mention he blocked a punt that allowed his offense a short field to score one of their much-needed touchdowns.
The Chargers went on to beat the Narrows Green Wave 49-12. Bath County secured the Pioneer District title and the number 1 seat giving them homefield advantage in the playoffs. Bath will face 2-8 Fort Chiswell Friday evening in Bath County at 7:00.
Come out to the field and support the Chargers through their playoff journey.
