ksalter@islandpacket.comSeptember 25, 2014
The moment when the Bridge Bowl became a rivalry again began with a defensive stand on the 2-yard line. The Seahawks, already down 18-0 late in the first half, were looking a sixth straight loss and another blowout in the face. And then it all changed.
One botched fake field goal and 25 unanswered points, a two-point conversion and a last-second interception later, Hilton Head could finally reclaim bragging rights over rival Bluffton.
One year later, the Bobcats and Seahawks will meet again for their annual clash of bad blood and bad memories, each with that pivotal turning point firmly stamped in their memory. In this game, there are no region implications, but in some cases, pride comes before playoffs, and there certainly is a lot of the former riding on this one.
For Bluffton coach Ken Cribb, the loss was a tough one to swallow, coming as it did amidst a year derailed by injuries and close calls. It was a game he felt the Bobcats (3-2) did a lot to lose, and hopes not to have to revisit those mistakes much this week during preparation.
"The only time where it's been close is where we had a lot of attrition," Cribb said. "We botched two kickoffs. We had a chance at the end. All that and we still came up a point short. I'm proud of our program and where we are. A lot of times, that's good for you. You need to have some things work against you. I feel like we've been tested. We're playing more together, more as a team now."
The Bobcats certainly appear battle tested after going on the road to Whale Branch and rallying for a two-score victory over the physically-imposing Warriors. It was another example of the advantage Bluffton has when it gets the most out of its undeniable speed and depth. This week, Cribb insists the focus won't be as much on playing Hilton Head (3-1) as it is on improving from within. After all, there is still region play to attend to, and that is looming just around the corner.
"We're not concentrating on our opponent," Cribb said. "It's just another game for us."
What they have been focusing on is figuring out proper alignments and stances, solidifying their tackling technique and eliminating some of the mistakes that nearly cost them last week in Seabrook. Cribb said a lot of times when things break down is because his players have gotten themselves out of position. Mental errors like those against a team like the Seahawks could prove more costly, especially with a Hilton Head team that now knows it can hang with Cribb's crew. Bluffton gets this one at home, and should have the full backing of a raucous crowd out for revenge.
"I tell all of Bluffton, they don't want to miss this one," Cribb said. "I'd like for us to show our strength as a community."
For his part, Hilton Head coach B.J. Payne isn't shy in his assessment of just how much Bluffton can accomplish.
"I think they're a really good football team," Payne said. "The record is deceiving. They might be 3-2 on paper, but they're 4-1. It seems like they're starting to click on all cylinders. They bring so many things to the table."
Payne rattled off some of those items during an interview Monday. He started with quarterback Alex Davis, moved on to praise of Bluffton's running game, their speed at wideouts, and mentions that he feels they've really turned a corner defensively. Add to that the fakes and gadget plays Bluffton has become well-known for, and Payne said his team will have to put in a good outing.
Last year, he said, it took playing a nearly perfect game to beat the Bobcats for the first time in six years. In unfriendly territory on Friday night, it might take more of the same. Still, Payne, like Cribb, insists that his team is treating each game as it comes, not as a defining moment in a season that will see many more important clashes yet.
"Obviously it's a big game, but I say it all the time: We go week to week," Payne said. "I thought, more than anything, it was a big win for the rivalry, because the game had gotten out of control. We were fortunate enough to win it."
Whether or not each coach will admit it, this game is probably the most anticipated matchup of the season so far, with perhaps the area's two best quarterbacks dueling under the lights.
Hilton Head should get a boost from perhaps its most dangerous offensive playmaker in Aaron Frazier, who missed the Seahawks' game with Battery Creek. Payne's squad is coming off a bye week -- something he isn't sure will be an advantage given the potential for some rust -- and will also have quarterback Aidan Hegarty under center after he missed last year's game with an injury.
"He brings different things to the table," Payne said of Hegarty. "It's his first really big game. There's going to be adversity in that game. It's going to be how you handle it. I tell our teams all the time, when you're playing good teams, they're going to do things. They're going to do things really well and it's how you react to those things. He's played lights out to this point. I don't expect that to change at all."
Payne hopes the end result won't change either.
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