The Bobcats earned the 8-4A Conference Championship by defeating the Hamburg Lions 26-14 improving to 7-3 overall Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Hamburg. The victory gives the Bobcats a first round bye in the 4A State Playoff tournament. Dumas will await the winner of the Bauxite vs Huntsville game to be played Friday, November 13.
It was a Thursday night game in Hamburg, but it felt just like Friday as the Bobcats, led by Dumas Head Football Coach George Shelton and his staff took the field.
The game got underway when senior #20 Roman James kicked off. Dumas immediately drew the first penalty of the game, when they were flagged for grabbing the face mask of the Lion's kickoff return man, advancing the ball to the Hamburg 42 yard line.
The Lions drove 58 yards in 10 plays to score the games first points. With the extra point, Hamburg led 7-0 with 7:02 to play in the first quarter.
Bobcat #11 Shamarcus Heard returned the Lion kickoff to the Dumas 36.
Bobcat #10 Johntarrius Washington carried on back to back plays advancing the ball to the Dumas 45 yard line before #3 Kylin James gained five yards on his first carry, picking up a first down at mid-field.
The Bobcats first drive stalled a few plays later, due to penalties, and senior punter #73 Jon Stanley Hill kicked the ball to the Hamburg 30.
On the Bobcats' next possession, which started at their own 49, senior quarterback #9 Kennon Jones completed a four yard touchdown pass to senior #14 Tamarja Parker with 8:07 to play in the first half. R. James added the extra point to tie the contest at 7-7.
Hamburg's next drive stalled at their own 44. Facing fourth and 12, the Lions punted to Kylin James. James fielded the line drive kick at the Dumas 28 and returned the punt 72 yards for a Bobcat touchdown with 4:50 to play in the first half. R. James kicked the extra point to lift the Bobcats to a 14-7 advantage and score the teams would carry into the respective halftime locker rooms.
Hamburg kicked off to start the second half. Senior #1 Daylen Davis returned the kick from the Dumas 30 to the Hamburg 28 yard line.
Seven plays later, Kylin James went 14 yards for a Dumas touchdown with 8:54 left in the third quarter. The Lions blocked the extra point, leaving the score Bobcats 20, Lions 7.
During Hamburg's next possession, the Bobcats drew a low blocking penalty while on defense?? The odd call was only outdone by the home field clock operator who started the 24 second clock when Dumas had the ball before the officials spotted the ball after each offensive play. However, when Hamburg was on offense the play clock sometimes started at 50 seconds, often at 35. I've never seen anything like that in all my years of covering high school football. Of course the officials did nothing about the clock situation and the game continued.
The third quarter ended with Hamburg in possession of the ball at their own 44, facing a fourth and 10.
Trailing 20-7, the Lions went for it on fourth down to start the fourth quarter.
However, Daylen Davis picked off the Hamburg pass and returned the pick to midfield.
With 6:13 left to play, Kylin James went 35 yards for a touchdown. The extra point failed, leaving the score Dumas 26, Hamburg 7.
The following kickoff saw Dumas penalized for another personal foul, putting Hamburg at the Bobcat 45. Eight plays later the Lions scored on an eight yard touchdown run. With the extra point, the Bobcats led 26, Lions 14, which turned out to be the final score.
I've covered high school football for over 40 years and I must say, the job Coach Shelton and his staff have done is outstanding. To take a varsity high school football team that won one game last year, to a 7-3 record, should have been 8-2, and win a conference championship is almost unbelievable. Coach Shelton took the job about a month before the season began and immediately made a difference.
Great coaching combined with great kids, especially the best running back in Arkansas High School 2020 Football, Kylin James.
Enjoy this Dumas, it doesn't often happen like this. No matter how the rest of the 2020 football season goes, we have all experienced something special.
