By John Tolis
Campus Magnet had multiple opportunities to take control of the game against DeWitt Clinton, but couldn’t make it happen.
Even having the ball first in overtime, the Bulldogs didn’t get through the tough Clinton defense. Campus Magnet then had to watch Governors quarterback Brandon Harris, who had tortured them all game, score from 10 yards out to hand the visiting Bulldogs a 40-34 defeat in PSAL City Conference football Saturday afternoon. Harris scored five touchdowns, including three in the air.
“Clinton played well, they played better than us today and there is nothing else to elaborate on it,” Bulldogs Coach Eric Barnett said. “These kids came out and played better than my kids today.”
Campus Magnet moved the ball well throughout the game and held the lead three times. Still, they had to tie the score late before missing a chance to win it in regulation.
Bulldogs senior quarterback Blessuan Austin threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to classmate Stephon Hercules to tie the score at 34-34 in the fourth quarter, but they could not convert the two-point conversion.
An interception by Khalid Miller late in the frame gave Campus Magnet the ball with a chance to go ahead. Despite being in the red zone, Austin and the Bulldogs just could not score. Clinton was playing Austin tight so it was impossible for him to go anywhere on the ground, forcing him to throw to well-covered receivers.
As well as Austin played, he felt like he could have done more for his team.
“I made a bad decision on the goal line going in for the conversion,” Austin said. “I could’ve run it in, but I decided to rely on my arm.”
Austin displayed his speed early in the game, rushing for 10 yards, then later for another 20 yards into the end zone that gave his club a 14-6 lead.
Campus Magnet did take some advantage from Clinton’s mistakes as they forced three turnovers, especially a fumble in the beginning of the third quarter that Charles Driver picked up and returned for a score to give Campus Magnet the lead again at 28-20.
Austin believes it was because of “mental mistakes” that his team lost the game. Even though his team lost their first game, he still believes the Bulldogs are going to get better as the season goes on.
“I think we’re going to be great, we have a great running game, a great passing game,” Austin said. “We just got to get better and correct the mental mistakes.”
