Blue Devils run away with the Battle of the Bridge
By: Lindsey Crawford
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POINT PLEASANT, West Virginia (WOUB)- In Point Pleasant for the 88th annual Battle of the Bridge, the Black Knights came back to the field hoping to defend their title against the Gallia Academy Blue Devils.
Out the gate, Point Pleasant had their foot on the gas, with the first drive bringing them down to the 45 yard line. In the beginning, it truly seemed like Caden Hill and Anthony Marrero would be the dynamic duo of the night, easily moving the ball down the field, picking up first down after first down. At 2nd and goal for the Black Knights, Hill would carry the ball into the end zone giving Point Pleasant the first touchdown of the game.
Gallia made use of their first possession, carrying the punt to the 31 yard line. From there, Parker Burris would bring the ball home, tying the score 7-7 early in the first.
From there, the Blue Devils would put pressure on Point Pleasant, upping the score courtesy of Brock Shelton with an 81 yard rush to the endzone. Gallia Academy would lead 14-7.
For the Black Knights, it seemed as though they struggled to string anything together on the offense during the first half. This would be proven true after Gallia Academy’s Shelton would score once more, widening the Blue Devils lead to 21-7.
Just before halftime, Point Pleasant’s Anthony Marrero would carry into the endzone, putting the Black Knights back in the game with 38 seconds to spare. Gallia Academy would be back on the offensive, but not for long after an interception made by Braxton Bauer would leave the Black Knights 1st and 10 from their own 20 yard line with just over 20 seconds left. Point Pleasant would end the first half trailing 21-14.
Into the third quarter, the Black Knights new found success seemed to carry over. However, Gallia Academy was not backing down as Brock Shelton would once again find his way into the endzone for another Blue Devil touchdown.
To keep Point Pleasant in the game, Quarterback Caden Hill would carry the ball to the endzone for the second time, bringing the score to 28-21.
Unfortunately for the Black Knights, a narrowly missed opportunity to score and tie the game would be the final nail in their coffin, as Gallia Academy would run out the play clock on their final possession. The Blue Devils would run away with the Battle of the Bridge Trophy 28-21.