Hidden Valley Defeats Dublin

Dukes Fall To Hidden Valley
By David Gravely

Turnovers, poor tackling, and a strong Hidden Valley running game and defense proved to be too much for Dublin Middle School Thursday in Roanoke, as the Dukes dropped their first game of the season to the Eagles by a final score of 21-8.

Dublin received the ball to start the game, but were forced to punt without a first down.  Hidden Valley drove the ball down the field, and with 3:37 left in the first quarter #22 for the Eagles scored on a 34 yard run.  The two point conversion was stopped, leaving the score at 6-0.  On the kickoff the Dukes returned the ball to the 43 yard line, but a fumble on third down gave the ball back to the Eagles.   Jake Callahan recovered a fumble by the Eagles three plays later to put the Dukes back in business, but Dublin couldn't get the first down and Hidden Valley took over.  The Eagles again drove the ball down the field, and with 3:36 left in the half #44 took the ball in from three yards out for the score.  Hidden Valley's #22 took the ball into the endzone for the two point conversion, putting the score at 14-0 Eagles.

Dublin started to move the ball with a good mix of runs and passes, but the Dukes fumbled the ball again at the Hidden Valley 17 yard line to end the drive.  The Eagles decided to try to finish the game with a long pass, but the ball was tipped and #7 Darion Brown intercepted the ball for Dublin and returned it to the Hidden Valley thirty yard line.  The Dukes attempted a long pass, but in was incomplete and the half ended 14-0 Hidden Valley.

Hidden Valley took the second half kickoff and drove the length of the field before a solid hit knocked the ball loose and #62 Tanner Dotson recovered the fumble on the Dukes two yard line.  Dublin began to move the ball again, but on the first play of the fourth quarter a pass from #2 Malik Eaves was intercepted by Hidden Valley.  With 2:18 left in the fourth quarter Hidden Valley finished off another long drive when #22  took the ball in from four yards out for the score.  The Eagles #58 kicked the extra point to put the score at 21-0 Hidden Valley.

After another good kickoff return, Dublin finally put together a solid drive and moved the ball down the field.  With 26.8 second left in the fourth quarter #32 Levi Clark took the ball off the right side of the offensive line and drove into the endzone for six.  The Dukes #5 Jesse Draper met stiff resistance at the line while attempting the two point conversion, but he bulled his way over three Eagle defenders to convert, putting the score at 21-8 Hidden Valley.  The Dukes attempted an onside kick on the kickoff, but Hidden Valley recovered and took a knee to end the game.

The coaches agreed to let the backups play an extra session, giving each teams offense ten plays.   Dublin's #17 Kevin Smith came to take over the quarterback duties, and the Dukes began to move the ball.  Running backs Mark Southern, Jared Lucado, Darion Brown, and Elliot Brewster all got their chance to carry the pigskin, but the highlight of the Dukes offensive series was a 70 yard touchdown run down the visitors sidelines by Kevin Smith.  The Dukes defense held strong and did not allow Hidden Valley to score.

Dublin, now 2-1 on the season, come back home next week to host Andrew Lewis on Thursday September 16th.  Kickoff is set for 5 pm.