Dorman and Birdville Pass First Test

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS- In a game delayed by strong storms that moved through Tarrant County Thursday night the Birdville Hawks (1-0) held off a scrappy Arlington Heights Yellow Jackets (0-1) squad 35-28 at the Birdville FAAC. Josh Dorman was sacked six times as Arlington Heights blitzed getting off the bus but everytime he got drilled by the likes of LB Willie Byrd he got back up and wound up throwing for 415 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Birdville took the opening kick and proceeded to march right down the field scoring on a 35 yard touchdown pass from Dorman to Jonathan Dents. AHHS blitzed and Dents beat the one on one coverage and Dorman threw a perfect pass for the score to give BHS a 7-0 advantage. Heights wasted little time striking back led by junior WR Marquis Jackson who made a sensational catch in the end zone on a fade route from sophomore QB Omar Valdez as Arlington Heights tied it up at seven.

Birdville had a quick answer as once again Dorman and Dents hooked up, this time Dents ran an outstanding slant route on the Heights blitz and he outran the DB to paydirt on a 47 yard catch and run to give the Hawks a 14-7 edge. The score would prove costly as Dents left the game with an injury after the score. After a Heights punt Birdville looked to go up two scores but this time the Yellow Jackets defense was able to turn up the heat. On a 3rd and long Byrd forced Dorman to release the ball a little early and AHHS' Marquis Jackson were there for the INT and he went 62 yards the other way untouched to tie the game at 14.

Early in the second quarter Birdville would take the lead back on a methodical drive paced by pinpoint short passing by Dorman as junior WR Brandon Jenkins scored on a two year touchdown reception. Birdville's defensive line at this point began to assert dominance as DE Nicholas McKinney and DT Dillon James gave the Heights OL trouble all night. Dorman and the Hawks would go up by two scored as Cory Hines scored on a 35 yard touchdown pass with four minutes left in the first half. Hines would end the game with ten receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Arlington Heights would finally have an answer as Jackson led the way with two receptions on the ensuing drive for 34 yards to put Heights in the red zone. FB Michael Jacobs capped the drive with a one yard dive to make it 28-21. Birdville had a chance to score once more before the half but on a 4th and 1 inside the ten the Hawks elected to go for it and the Heights defense held keeping the score at 28-21 Birdville at the half as DB Jordan Price made the play to break the Dorman pass up.

After a first half full of offensive fireworks the second half turned into a defensive struggle highlighted by a chess match between the Heights defensive staff and the Birdville offensive staff. Late in the third quarter the Heights defense made a big play as once again price came through picking off Dorman setting AHHS up at the Birdville 31. On the next play Valdez hooked up with junior RB Theo Davis for a 31 yard touchdown pass to tie the game up at 28.

Birdville's offense had all kinds of problems in the third quarter and early in the fourth but midway through the quarter the Hawks finally started to figure out the Heights blitz and started to move the ball. After Byrd left the game with a cramp the Hawks struck as on the one play Byrd missed Dorman had a little extra time to sit in the pocket and he found Hines for a 35 yard touchdown pass to give BHS a 35-28 lead. The Heights offense failed to generate any offense on their next drive and the Jackets punted and they would not get the ball back as Birdville finally got a ground game going and the Hawks would run the clock out for the win.