FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 9, 2013) -- Worthy of an ESPN highlight reel, the Fort Benning Bengals overcame a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter Thursday and the defense stymied the Eastway Cherokees' offense on fourth-and-3 at the Bengals' 33-yard line with 1:19 remaining to preserve a 34-29 win in the Columbus Youth Football League at Shirley Winston Park.
The Bengals got off to a quick start following the opening kickoff when KywanWoods took the handoff on the first play from scrimmage and ran 45 yards down to the Cherokees' 6-yard line. Two plays later, the Bengals were on the board and led 6-0 on an 8-yard touchdown run from Dishaun Woods with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter.
Defenses on both sides flexed their muscles with each holding the other teams' offense in check, and scoreless, for the rest of the quarter.
Beginning its drive at the end of the first quarter, the Cherokees' offense gained ground in the opening minutes of the second quarter and tied the game at 6-6 on a 5-yard run with 8:45 remaining in the half.
As the clock wound down on the half, the Cherokees drove the ball down to the Bengals' 33-yard line with less than two minutes to go, but on fourth-and-2, the Bengals' defense made its first critical fourth-down stop of the game, forcing the Cherokees to turn the ball over on downs.
From their own 32-yard line, it only took the Bengals one play to take their second lead of the game, scoring on a 68-yard run by Dishaun. The one point conversion was good and with 1:43 remaining in the second quarter, the Bengals led 13-6.
The Cherokees quickly bounced back, though, moving the ball from their own 42 down to the Bengals 1-yard line. With a first-and-goal, the Bengals made a goal line stand, holding the Cherokees on the 1-yard line as time expired in the half.
On the first possession of the second half, the Cherokees marched 56 yards down the field to take their first lead of the game on a 9-yard run to go ahead 14-13.
The Bengals responded with a drive from the Cherokees 28-yard line following a fumble recovery by the Bengals' Tyler Washington. Dishaun followed up with a 20-yard touchdown run with 8:57 remaining in the game for a Bengals' 19-14 lead.
It only took the Cherokees 15 second to retake the lead, scoring on a kickoff return for a touchdown and a 21-19 lead.
After holding the Bengals on their next possession, the Cherokees scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 36-yard touchdown run with 6:33 remaining to take a 10-point lead.
Trailing 29-19, Dishaun took the ensuing kickoff at the 50-yard line and returned it to the Cherokees' 15. On the next play, Dishaun ran 15 yards for the touchdown with 6:12 remaining to cut the Cherokees' lead to 29-26.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Bengals special teams recovered a fumble on the Cherokees' 42-yard line. On four consecutive carries, Dishaun gave the Bengals the lead, scoring on a 13-yard run with 4:24 remaining. With the successful two-point conversion, a pass from Dishaun to Elijah Moffett, the Bengals led 34-29.
With sufficient time left, the Cherokees attempted their own comeback from midfield. After moving down to the Bengals 43-yard line.
With less than two minutes remaining, the Cherokees faced a make or break fourth-and-three from the Bengals 33-yard line.
"We knew they were going to try and pound the ball up the middle," Bengals coach Travis Washington said. "We knew who was going to get the ball … we blitzed and caught him in the backfield. It was a big fourth-and-three."
The Bengals beat the Cherokees off the ball and swarmed the running back in the backfield for a 1-yard loss with 1:19 left on the clock to end the scoring threat.
The Bengals ran out the clock to preserve the 34-29 win.
Washington said when the Bengals fell behind and needed a comeback, he told his quarterback (Dishaun) he needed to take the game on his back.
"I told him (Dishaun) to just do what he knew to do and drive it down the field," Washington said. "He just took over the game."
Washington said many contributed to "the biggest win of the season."
"Our defense played strong, our offense played strong, our coaches were great and especially the parents stayed strong. They were definitely supportive of us."
After knocking off the defending champions, the Bengals stayed perfect at 5-0 Saturday by defeating the second place team from last year, the Phenix City Titans, 28-12.
"We did just enough at the end to pull it out," he said. "I think the players let down because of all the emotion from the Thursday night game. We were up 12-0 at the half and never trailed."
The Bengals take on Edgewood on Thursday at Fort Middle School. Game time is 7 p.m.
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