Mistakes Prove Costly – A botched punt and a fumble doom Campus Magnet

A week after Campus Magnet forfeited their game against Jamaica, their local rival - a decision made by Andrea Holt, the Principal of the Math & Science school because of inappropriate behavior - they returned to the field in a marquee match-up against James Madison.
Instead of a landmark victory that could affirm the status of the burgeoning program's development, the Bulldogs experienced perhaps a worse pain than not being able to play - they lost a game, 16-12, at home Sunday afternoon, they clearly should've won.
Campus Magnet outplayed the undefeated Knights, holding them to a season-low 140 total yards, and controlled the clock. But it was their own failed execution that was the difference.
A botched handoff and a high snap deep in their own end as they prepared to punt gift-wrapped a pair of Madison touchdowns. &#8220To lose like that to that team,” quarterback Datalia Holness said, &#8220it hurts.”
The Bulldogs took an early lead when Holness found Gabriel Vargas from 19 yards out. But pinned inside their five-yard-line to start the second quarter, fullback Ronald Merritt fumbled a handoff from Holness, giving away the ball at the one. Two plays later, Alonzo Butler powered into the end zone.
Late in the third quarter, a bad snap impeded punter Jerome Harrisingh's kick, giving Madison the ball inside the Bulldogs 15. Three plays later, Michael Rivera plowed in from six yards out.
Holness got them closer midway through the final quarter, connecting with wideout Stephan Benjamin on a 55-yard go route, cutting the deficit to 16-12. But Harrisingh's PAT attempt was blocked, the second time he failed on the point-after attempt.
&#8220We shut them down defensively, dominated them offensively, but my kids forgot about the third part of the game, special teams, and that's what got us in trouble,” Campus Magnet Coach Eric Barnett said.
After forcing a punt, the Bulldogs still had one chance left - or so they thought. On 4th and 4, they appeared to be getting the ball back, but an illegal block was called, giving Madison (6-0) the first down.
It was ruled that the Bulldogs' two nose tackles hit the Knights center before he got up from his crouch - a sure-fire penalty. But the Bulldogs said the center, who is also a gunner on punts, was blocked by the two diminutive linemen when he picked his head up. &#8220I know he lied to me,” Barnett said of the official. &#8220He said one guy hit him high, one guy hit him low. No guy can hit him high. …. The ref decided that one for the kids.”
At one point riding high at 3-1, with their archrival coming up and a serious test looming, the Bulldogs (3-3) are now suddenly at .500 after two disheartening weeks. &#8220We should've been 5-1,” Benjamin said. &#8220But …. the incident [happened], then this game, it didn't work out for us the way we wanted to. I'm feeling like we should've won. But it depends on what we did on the field; little mistakes we made cost us the game.”