Brian Burgess hauled in a long touchdown pass and ran in another Saturday to help lift his Regulators squad past Hyperspeed 14-0 in AYA youth football action at Cathedral.
“We’ve been working hard this year,” Regulators coach Doug Jordan said. “We had to throw in a new offense this week, and we did a good job of adapting. We still have to work out a few bugs, but this new offense is getting us where we need to go.”
The two teams played to a scoreless first quarter before Burgess plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out with 9.6 seconds left to go in the first half.
The scoring play was set up by a number of nifty runs on the drive from Tralyn Cusic, who picked up 15, 21 on 14-yard gains.
Regulators defensive end Crews Marchbanks helped give his squad possession after he recorded a pivotal tackle for loss deep in his team’s territory. Marchbanks recorded three tackles for a loss in the game, including a sack.
“Our defensive coach, Coach Ryan Marchbanks, made an adjustment bringing him from interior line to defensive end, and I think we found our secret weapon; he’s unstoppable,” Jordan said.
Trailing 6-0 midway through the fourth quarter, the Regulators were deep in Hyperspeed territory and threatening to run away with the win.
Hyperspeed, however, wouldn’t go away quietly.
Braxton Carmello Hunt and Carter Hawkins combined to bring down Cusic in the backfield on fourth down to complete a defensive stand inside the red zone, sending hope of a potential comeback down the Hyperspeed sideline.
“This is very fun,” Hyperspeed coach Kentrell Stampley Sr. said. “They played very tough. It’s hot out here, but they fought and did very well.”
Following the defensive stand, Marchbanks and the Regulators defense swung momentum clear in their team’s favor with a safety.
Burgess then struck for his second score of the game as he slipped past the Hyperspeed defense to haul in a 50-yard strike from Owen Jordan.
“I wouldn’t trade anything for this,” Jordan said.