The Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets were riding high off a 61-0 shutout over Manassas Park last week and were hoping to carry that momentum into their matchup versus the Hylton Bulldogs this past Friday.
OP looked to go 2-0 for the first time since the 2008-2009 season, but Hylton looked to win for the first time in 14 games. The home team would finally break through, winning 27-0.
The two teams would jockey for position for the entire first half. Three combined turnovers in the first quarter would dash either team's chances of creating momentum.
Osbourn Park senior quarterback Adrian Cabrera would rip off a 22 yard run to get to Hylton's 37 yard line. Shortly after, Cabrera would be intercepted by the Bulldogs at Hylton's 39.
OP's defense would hold once again, and Cabrera would connect with senior running back Matt Brown on a 20 yard completion to get just outside the redzone. But Hylton junior cornerback Mason Cheatham would intercept the ball on the following play.
Following another defensive stop, Cabrera would find senior receiver Julius Palza for 23 yards at Hylton's 13 yard line. The Bulldogs stood strong, forcing OP to attempt a field goal. OP would miss, and the game stayed knotted 0-0 at the half.
Hylton junior running back Logan Marshall would break the ice with a four yard scamper into the endzone. The home team went up 7-0 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Adrian Cabrera would come up big on defense, intercepting a ball at OP's 8 yard line to stave off another Bulldog score. OP would be forced to punt.
Two minutes later, Logan Marshall would find paydirt again- this time from 16 yards out. Hylton carried a 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
Bulldog senior quarterback Jacob Benavides put his stamp on the game in the fourth quarter, finding senior receiver Joshua Rahim on a 16 guard connection to put their team up three scores with seven minutes left in the game.
Benavides would sneak the ball in from one yard out with two minutes left in the game. They'd fumble the point after attempt, keeping the score at 27-0.
I talked to Osbourn Park head coach Marsel Wells following the game on his team's performance.
"Tonight was an eye opener for the kids. I believe they got caught up in last week's results. Knowing they won 61-0 and Hylton had lost 62-6, they underestimated how physical this game would be. A few injuries topped with penalties shifted the momentum for the Bulldogs and they took full advantage."
Osbourn Park (1-1) will look to right the ship next week versus Herdon (1-1). Herndon is coming off a 55-0 shutout of Justice High School. Kickoff is at 7 p.m at Unity Reed High School.
Game notes:
- Hylton was OP's lone win last season. The 22-20 loss provided plenty of motivation for the Bulldogs.
- Adrian Cabrera would finish the game with 247 all-purpose yards (146 passing, 101 rushing).
- Matt Brown led all OP receivers with 6 catches for 74 yards.
- Osbourn Park sophomore receiver Derron Danquah had the team's longest catch at 29 yards.
- Junior David Fitzgerald led the OP defense with 7 tackles and 1 sack.
- Junior lineman Rutilio Argueta-Alvarez had 5 tackles and 1 sack.
- Hylton won the turnover battle with 3 to OP's 6.
- The refs were quite involved all night to the tune of 26 penalties for 206 yards (OP: 12,85/Hylton: 14, 121).
- Hylton had 16 first down's to OP's 10.
- On 3rd down, OP was a respectable 6-15.
- Neither team converted on fourth down (OP:0-3, Hylton: 0-4)
- Julius Palza had 3 punt returns for 31 yards with a long of 20. He'd also have 4 punts for 121 yards with a long of 52.
- Cabrera had 1 punt for 37 yards.
