|
Quarterback
Delvonta Cole and the Bayhawk offense take a knee
to close out the game.
|
Chesapeake Head Coach Mark Junker has led his team to
the playoffs since he took over as coach in 2007, but had never won a
playoff game until last Friday. Junker and his Bayhawks defeated
Dundalk 14-12 in the first round of the 2A North Regional Semifinal at
CCBC-Dundalk. Junker was happy to get the win, but disappointed on how
sloppy his team played.
"Yeah, it was good to get the win, but we have some room for
improvement. We need to play more fundamentally sound," Junker said.
Dundalk actually grabbed an early 6-0 after a Tavon Henley 23-yard
touchdown run. Henley had 80 yards rushing and both Owl touchdowns.
Juwan Lipscomb also contributed to the Owl ground game with 71 yards.
On defense, the Owls were playing great too as Manuel Harris, Jr. got a
sack when Chesapeake went for it on fourth down. Dundalk looked to add
more points on their next two drives. Dundalk got the ball down to the
Bayhawk 14-yard line after a 44-yard run by Lipscomb, but the drive
ended with a sack by Chesapeake's Chris Brown. Dundalk got the ball
back after Damontre Lynch recovered a fumble deep into Chesapeake
territory, but again couldn't score on the Bayhawk defense. They were
forced to punt, but couldn't get the punt off as Chesapeake's Aaron
Beason sacked the punter.
"Our defense has been solid all season long. You need a solid defense
to be the backbone of your team," Junker added.
That sack changed the momentum as it took the Bayhawks only two plays
to score. Quarterback Delvonta Cole scored on a 13-yard touchdown run.
His touchdown was set-up by a James Bedgood 32-yard run. Bedgood had a
busy night with an interception, had 119 yards rushing and scored the
game-winning touchdown on a 55-yard run in the early third quarter.
Dundalk, which won only two games last year, wouldn't go away. Owl
quarterback Alvin Thomas, III converted a 4th and 14 pass to Jordan
Lomax and a Henley 19-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 14-12.
Dundalk tried to tie it, but their two-point conversion attempt was
stopped by Chesapeake.
The Owls had one last drive, but it ended when Chesapeake's TeAndre
Gamble recorded his third sack of the game.
"Give Dundalk a lot of credit, they came to play tonight," Junker said.
"Both games we played against them were close."
Bayhawks to Face Eastern Tech in Rematch,
Pointers Lose
While Chesapeake escaped Dundalk, Eastern Tech was
pounding Lake
Clifton 50-12 in the other 2A North Regional Semifinal. The Mavericks
play the Bayhawks in a rematch Friday night at 7 p.m. in the North
Regional Final at CCBC-Dundalk. Chesapeake stunned Eastern Tech 15-13
on Sept. 25.
"They (Eastern Tech) were probably chomping at the bit to get another
shot at us. They will be ready and we need to get ready," he added.
"We're going to have to get back to fundamentals before we face them."
Tech and Chesapeake are the only two local teams left in the football
playoffs. Sparrows Point was eliminated by Pikesville 42-20 in the 1A
Region.
|
