FORT BENNING, Ga., (Sept. 18, 2013) -- The 2013 Fort Benning Bengals youth football team got off to a successful start Saturday at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium with a 12-0 exhibition win over the Clubview Bulldogs to kick off the 55th season of the Columbus Youth Football league during its annual football jamboree.
As an exhibition game, the scoreboard clock was set with 15 minutes for each team to score as many times as it could with the Bengals getting the ball first on its own 40-yard line.
The Bengals started with five straight runs, moving the ball down to the 2-yard line before fumbling back to the Bulldogs 8-yard line, but the Bengals caught a break by recovering the fumble to keep the drive alive.
From the 2-yard line, quarterback Dishaun Woods took the snap from center and raced around right end for the score. The point after attempt failed and the Bengals led 6-0.
Clubview got the ball next, but its possession lasted two plays. On second and 9 yards to go, Tyler Washington recovered a Bulldogs fumble on the Bulldogs 41-yard line, but Clubview got the ball back three plays later on an interception at the 41-yard line with 5:56 remaining.
The Bengals defense did not bend, and in four plays, had the Bulldogs facing fourth-and-27 from its own 24-yard line. The Bulldogs, trailing 6-0 and with 2:22 remaining, went for the first down but turned the ball over on downs when a pass attempt was incomplete.
It took only one play for the Bengals to ice the game.
From the 24-yard line, Dishaun dropped back to pass and found a streaking Kywan Woods down the right sideline. Kywan made the catch and shook off a Bulldogs defender and raced into the end zone for the score. The point after failed and the Bengals took home a 12-0 win.
Although the Bengals ran the ball most of the game, the clinching score came on a passing play.
"Going in, we wanted to run the ball," coach Travis Washington said. "We have a lot of talent on offense. We made a couple of bad plays, but we've got a smart quarterback that adjusted to what we were doing. Overall, I think we played a great game."
Offensively, both teams suffered setbacks with turnovers. The Bengals turned the ball over on an interception, while Clubview turned the ball over on a fumble.
But, on Clubview's final possession, it was the Bengals staunch defense that recorded two of its three sacks of the game that kept the Bulldogs out of scoring position and proved to be the difference.
"On defense, we were awesome," Washington said. "I think if we can just play to our potential, we can go anywhere we want to go."
The importance of the jamboree, Washington said, was the jamboree let the team know where it stood.
"I think this sets us up very well," Washington said. "Now we know what we have to do, and I think this gives us good momentum going forward."
The Fort Benning Bengals kick off the season against the South Columbus Raiders at noon Saturday at Rigdon Park in South Columbus. To get to the park, take Victory Drive to South Lumpkin Road. Go to the Crown Station on South Lumpkin Road and turn right onto Hendrix. Go to Howe Ave., and turn right
into the park.
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