Stone Bridge Falls to Phoebus
Going into the Division 5 state semi-final game, the Stone Bridge Bulldogs knew they were facing a formidable opponent. The Pheobus Phantoms were undefeated, powerful and motivated by revenge. What the Bulldogs didn't anticipate was struggling against their selves. Numerous turnovers and costly penalties put the Stone Bridge team into a hole they could not crawl out of, and a bruising Phantom defense took advantage.
The vaunted Bulldog ground game never got in gear, and the defense that had stuffed opponents game after game simply could not pull out enough turnovers of its own to rescue the team. Pheobus running back Shawne Alston turned the tables on Bulldogs and rushed for 169 yards, while the Phantom secondary recorded five interceptions to seal the deal.
Things went bad for the Bulldogs from the start and got worse after that. Stone Bridge received the kickoff, and on the first play from scrimmage quarterback Patrick Thompson scrambled to the left but was tackled and the ball jarred loose. Phantom defender Demetrius Ward scooped up the ball and ran untouched 26 yards for the score. With only ten seconds gone in the game, the Bulldogs were down 7-0.
The next drive for Stone Bridge began at the Bulldog 39, but on third and six Thompson was sacked again and the Bulldogs were forced to punt. Nick Sheehan pulled off an excellent punt and pinned Pheobus back at its own seven. The Bulldog defense tightened up and held the Phantoms at the 26, giving the ball back to Stone Bridge after a punt to the Bulldog 38.
Two rushes by Daniel Allen yielded only two yards, so Thompson was again forced to throw. The result was another turnover when Rasheed Clark stepped in front of Thompson's sideline pass and returned the interception to the Stone Bridge 16. The Bulldogs stiffened again, and Phoebus settled for a 24 yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.
After the kickoff, Stone Bridge tried to jump start the running game with Brian Slay in the backfield, but a one yard rush was not the desired result. On second and nine disaster struck again as Thompson's pass was high and picked off by Phoebus's Paul Morant. Morant fumbled during the return but it was recovered by the Phantoms at the Stone Bridge 49. Phoebus went three and out, however, and Stone Bridge seemed to dodge a bullet.
The Bulldogs went back to the ground and managed to move the chains to the 34, but on fourth and one the snap to Allen was off target, bouncing off his shoulder and forcing him to cover the loose ball for a loss. Phoebus took over deep in Stone Bridge territory and Alston capitalized, rushing three times for 26 yards and scoring from the three. The Phantoms were out front 17-0 and the Bulldogs were searching for answers.
On their next drive, the Bulldogs worked the ball out to midfield. On third down and ten, however, Thompson was sacked once more and the Bulldogs punted to the Phoebus 13. Stone Bridge seemed to have the Phantoms contained, but committed a roughing the passer foul, and the fifteen yard penalty gave Phoebus first down at the Bulldog 43. Alston delivered a near-fatal blow when he broke several tackles on the next play and rumbled all the way to the end zone, giving the Phantoms a comfortable 24-0 lead.
Stone Bridge had one more chance before the half, but a critical holding penalty put them in a big hole and the Bulldogs ultimately were forced to punt to the Phoebus 40. A rough the kicker call on fourth down let the Phantoms retain possession and run out the remainder of the clock.
After halftime, Stone Bridge saw a ray of hope when Alston fumbled on second down and Mike Olson recovered for the Bulldogs at the Phoebus 43. Thompson was able to counter the Phoebus rush with some key scrambles and two Phantom encroachment calls gave the Bulldogs first and goal at the six. Thompson then found Nick Sheehan with a six yard strike and Stone Bridge was on the board. A two point conversion pass to Zach Thompson was good and Stone Bridge trailed 24-8.
The Bulldog defense rose to the occasion in the next series, nearly covering another fumble but still causing a three and out for Phoebus. Stone Bridge could not take advantage, however, when the turnovers just kept coming. On first down Thompson was intercepted by Colby Goodwynr at the Stone Bridge 44. Phoebus went to their foundation as Alston rushed seven times for 32 yards, moving the ball to the Stone Bridge 22. From there quarterback Tahj Boyd, who had been silent most of the game, found Daquan Romero in the corner of the end zone and Phoebus led 31-8.
It got worse quickly for Stone Bridge. On third and fourteen from the 23, Thompson was picked again, this time by Lovante Battle who ran untouched in for the score. With 45 seconds left in the third quarter Phoebus led 38-8 and Stone Bridge was looking for a miracle.
The fourth quarter saw Stone Bridge struggling to put a drive together and Phoebus running the ball and the clock. The Phantoms continually harassed Thompson with a quick rush and a secondary that left no one open to throw to. Needing to score in a hurry and unable to run the ball, the Bulldogs simply could not overcome a thirty point deficit. The game ended with the Phantoms running out all but the final 12 seconds near the Bulldog end zone.
In the end, neither team put up gaudy numbers save the rushing yardage by Alston. The story of the game was Phoebus's ability to stop the run, force the pass and cause turnovers. Bulldog runners were held to 24 yards on 26 attempts, while the Phantom defense caused six turnovers and scored directly off two of them.
While the end is disappointing, Stone Bridge finished 13-1 and has established itself as football powerhouse in the Northern Region. The Bulldogs graduate a number of starters, but Coach Mickey Thompson will do doubt work his magic and have the program in position to contest for titles again next season.
