The playoff bound Silver Bullet Midgets, led by head coach Kerry Delaney, showed Y-D why they belong in the OCYFL playoffs on sunday, outplaying the Dolphins on both sides of the ball.
The Dolphins tried an onsides kick to start the game and Tom Harrington (72) smothered it at midfield. The offense gave Terrence Mudie (44) the ball almost exclusively on the first drive, he gained almost twenty yards on five carries and moved the chains twice. Kevin Hardy (1) and Tedora France (23) also pitched in but the Bullets turned the ball over on downs falling just short on a fourth down run by Mudie. Barnstable's defense went to work and Andrew Ellis (77) muscled a Y-D back out of bounds as he tried to get around the end. After a false start penalty, Bryan Hardy (88) made a superb tackle, grasping the QB as he tried to break through the line and on third down the Dolphins shotgun snap was mishandled and Jason Frieh (57) broke through the line diving on the loose ball. On first down Quarterback Hayden Murphy (12) handed off to Mudie this time for the first score of the game. Mudie could not find the end zone for the point after attempt though and the Bullets settled for six.
Kadeem Bailey (25), who earlier in the season kicked for a rare touchback, sent the ball to the thirty, Frieh and Mudie combined to stop any advance. The Bullet defense were'nt on the field long, holding the Dolphins back with great efforts by Kevin Hardy, France, and Jake Kipnes (22). On fourth and short, Ellis stuffed the run up the middle and Barnstable's offense regained possesion. It only took two plays before the excited fans saw Mudie run through a hole on the left side of the line and ran forty yards for his second touchdown of the first half. The extra point attempt again fell short on a pitch that netted 1 yard.
Bailey kicked out of bounds, but on the rekick, he sailed a perfect ball to the Y-D twenty. Kevin Hardy took out Dolphins Nick Mccoy (22) after a short pass and Ellis stuffed Mccoy for a loss of a yard. After a false start penalty sent the Dolphins back, on third and twelve, Tedora France picked off the Dolphins Quarterback and ran it into the end zone but was called back due a block in the back penalty after the interception. Terrence Mudie got this drive started and gave the Bullets a first down after a few short runs. France, on first down, dodged two tacklers in the backfield and broke free into open field all the way for the bullets third score. Amazingly, the Bullets converted their first extra point attempt of the season, as Murphy handed off to Andrew Ellis who muscled through the line, extending the lead to 20-0.
Kadeem Bailey kicked to the Dolphin twenty yard line, then followed the play making the tackle at the twenty-three allowing only a three yard return. Ryan Litchman (64) stopped Y-D on first down for a loss of three, and on second down Ellis and Mudie broke through the offensive line causing a fumble that ended up in Ellis's hands. Coach Delaney called a reverse on first down to Bailey for a five yard gain and Kevin Hardy ran for four more on second down. Terrence Mudie ran third down, and as he was taken down, outstretched his arms past the goal line but the line judge called for first and goal at the one. Coach Delaney, seeing how Ellis did on the previous point after attempt, called for him to carry and he found the end zone for the score and the point after thanks to a key block by Lee Hickey (74). Bryan Hardy ensured the half ended without a Dolphin score as he raced downfield and took out Y-D's return man.
The second half began with the Dolphin sqaud showing some offense. Litchman wrapped up Mccoy on the opening kick, Kipnes and Frieh held a Y-D run to a yard on first and the Bullets were charged with an offsides penalty on second, giving the Dolphins a second and four opportunity. Kipnes tripped up a Dolphin, holding him to a one yard gain, and on third down Litchman made a clean hit on a Y-D blocker as Ellis stopped the run for a two yard loss. An ambulance was called as a result of the collision but the on site paramedic stated it was only precautionary. Bailey almost swatted away a pass attempt on fourth down, but Nick Peabody (28) managed to hang on for a first down. The Dolphins tried to keep things moving but the Bullet defense had other plans for Y-D, as Ellis then Matt Hardy forced a Dolphin fourth down. Seamus Murray (34) and Lee Hickey rushed the Quarterback and sacked him as he tried to execute a pass, giving possesion back to Barnstable.
Barnstable's drive started with Kevin Hardy running for short yardage, then Manny Perry (48) sprinted for fifteen and a first down, the Bullets were stopped there though and the Dolphins took over on downs as the game entered the final quarter. Seamus Murray and Connor Jones (21) were instrumental in holding back the Dolphins next offensive drive, key plays were also turned in by Ellis and Billy Ho (22). Y-D was forced to turn the ball back over on downs when Frieh pressured the Quarterback and he threw it away.
Billy Ho took over as QB but the Bullett offense did'nt get far and punted away after an unsuccesful drive, giving Y-D one last chance to score. Hickey, Ellis and the rest of Barnstable's defense preseved the victory, shutting down the Dolphins, looking forward to the post season and hoping for similiar results.
