Manassas, VA — Riding high after a road win over Gar-Field last week, the Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets hoped to keep the momentum rolling for their homecoming game last Friday night. They were not able to capitalize as the Battlefield Bobcats spoiled the night by winning 61-12. The Bobcats wasted no time on their first drive to draw first blood. Gains of 25 and 14 yards set them up for a 9-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Sean McCarthy. They took a 7-0 lead with 11:01 left in the first quarter. OP failed to gain any traction on their opening drive, and punted back to Battlefield. The Bobcats took a measured approach and used a 12 play, 55-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead with 2:50 to go in the first. Junior running back Savion Phinizy capped it off with a 4-yard scamper. The second quarter opened up with another long score for Battlefield. This time senior quarterback Kyle Canestra dropped back, eluded defenders and ran up the right sideline for a 30-yard touchdown. The Bobcats led 21-0 with 11:49 left in the half. Phinizy came up big on the other side of the ball, intercepting an Anthony Smoot pass intended for sophomore running back Keyon Avila. He gashed OP’s defense for 30 yards, and Battlefield went up 27-0 after a 7-yard rush with 10:00 left in the second. Freshman quarterback Eddie Ostrander came into the game, connecting with Smoot (11 yards) and Amin Davis (5 yards), but OP could not manage to move the chains and would punt the ball away. Battlefield tried to add on, but Sean McCarthy was stripped by sophomore defensive back Khyree Alexander and lost the ball. Anthony Smoot was the first to fall on the ball at their own 18-yard line as a swarm of Yellow Jackets joined him. McCarthy would redeem himself, scoring on a 19-yard rush with 4:51 left in the half. Battlefield led 34-0 at the half. The two teams kicked off the second half by alternating possessions. Senior linebacker Chris Martin made an aggressive play on special teams when he took down a backpedaling returner at Battlefield’s 18-yard line. Despite the less than desirable field position, the Bobcats charged 82 yards and finished the drive with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Troy Brown. They led 41-0 with 7:50 to go in the third quarter. Senior Bobcat running back Zack Clark got in on the scoring right away with a 44-yard rushing touchdown and the visitors opened up the game even more, 48-0 as 4:21 was to go in the third quarter. OP had been stifled all night on offense, but did not let that deter them from converting on third down. Ostrander found Smoot for gains of 26, 21, 6 and 10 yards as the Yellow Jackets threatened inside the redzone. Ostrander found Amin Davis for a 15-yard touchdown pass and finished the drive with 83 yards on 6-10 passing. The Bobcats answered immediately with a 90-yard Phinizy kickoff return for a touchdown to take a 55-6 lead. An unfortunate fumble for the Yellow Jackets led to a Bobcat recovery, but the visitors would fail to capitalize on the moment as Bronson Taylor (-2) and Reilly Petit (-3) would record a TFL and sack. Osbourn Park would come back again with a score. This time it was a 47-yard catch-and-run by Smoot. OP trailed 55-12 with 3:28 left in the game. Another Bobcat running back would get his glory, as sophomore James Haywood came in and scored on a 54-yard rush to bring the final score to 61-12. Osbourn Park (2-5) head on the road where they are 2-1, this time to face the Stonewall Jackson Raiders (4-5) this Friday at 7 pm. Game Notes: - Eddie Ostrander finished 9-18 for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns - Anthony Smoot recorded 8 catches for 111 yards and a score. - Khyree Alexander led the defense with 7 tackles, a forced fumble and an impressive pass breakup. - The Bobcats imposed their will on offense, accounting for 23 first downs to OP’s 6. - OP was 3-12 on third down to Battlefield’s 2-4. - Both teams were a perfect 1-1 on fourth down conversions. - There was plenty of laundry on the field, as Battlefield compiled 6 penalties for 35 yards to Osbourn Park’s 8 for 70. - Luke Nitowski’s longest punt went 47 yards. For more on OP football, follow them @OPHSfootball and OPJackets. Keep it posted to www.osbournparkhs.rschoolteams.com for any and all news. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron or contact me at [email protected].