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Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

What Lake Taylor absolutely could not afford to do, they did here towards the end of the first half. Two plays after Carter Jones nearly dropped a Titans ball carrier in the end zone for a safety, Lake Taylor ends up putting the ball on the ground on a pitch out play. It's the third turnoer of the half, second on a lost fumble, and Poquoson is in business at the Titans 11-yard line with 15 seconds to go in the half.

After a 3-yard run with Dylan Bullard, the Islanders trot out the kicking unit for a 25-yard field goal. However, the kick is wide right.

So Lake Taylor dodges a bullet there and will go to the break only trailing by eight at 14-6.

Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

Dannuel Maye, Jeremiah Ferebee and Tyreek Turner all keep Dylan Bullard - who was averaging nearly 30 yards per carry to start this game through his first three attempt - from gaining anything positive on 3rd & 13 for the Poquoson offense.

Lake Taylor Coach Hank Sawyer burns a time-out with 1:26 to go as his Titans will be getting the football back after a punt from Josh Mitchell. Tell you what, that Mitchell kid has a heck of a leg and is easily one of the best punters in Tidewater, perhaps all of Virginia.

Mitchell pins Lake Taylor at their own 5 with 1:15 to go in the half. This is where the Titans have to be extra careful not to turn it over or get hit with a safety on a bad snap.

Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

Poquoson ends up going 3 & out as Cody Little runs for a gain of four yards, but then it's two negative plays. Keon Johnson makes a tackle for loss on second down, followed by LaTavion Hill sacking QB Eli Tyndall.

So Lake Taylor gets the ball back at their own 20 with 5:34 to go in the first half. A 15-yard catch by Jayden Yancey moves the sticks for the Titans. After that though, the Titans don't get much working as a 3-yard loss on a run play, with Nathaniel Quiroz making the stop, followed by a couple of incomplete passes.

The Titans punt it away and it's just a net of 7 yards. That gives Poquoson generous field position at the LT 39 with 3:50 till half-time.

Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

Lake Taylor has another solid drive working here as Darian McKenzie pops a 20-yard run on 2nd & 7 near midfield. On 3rd & 6 from their own 47, it's QB Promus Royal hitting Jerome Brown for a screen that gets them just over midfield.

On 4th & 2, the Titans leave the offense out there and it makes sense, given their kicking game hasn't shown to be that great at this point of playing the field position game. Carter Jones steps up with a big-time tackle on McKenzie, holding him to just a yard and short of the first down marker. Ball goes back to the Bull Islanders.

Given that Lake Taylor gets the ball to begin the 2nd half, it's important Poquoson moves the ball and tries to score before intermission here. They've got it with 7:48 left in the period.

Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

That Poquoson offensive line - with Brayden Agnese, Christian Leonard, Carter Jones, Gavin Coffman and Taylor Hollingsworth - is going back to work here and opening up big lanes for Dylan Bullard, Khaleo Smith and Cody Little to run right at this Titans defense that is searching for answers when they get to the second level of the defense in a hurry.

Bullard breaks off a run of 39 yards to the Titans 20-yard line with 12 seconds to go in the first period. Not a good sight for the Titans here as they use a time-out with LB Jerome Brown being checked out by the trainers. WIthout him, the defense is in even more trouble potentially.

Blog LIVE Game Blog: Poquoson 21, Lake Taylor 6 - FINAL

Lake Taylor's defense forces a 3 & out as they do a much better job against the Poquoson run game, flowing sideline to sideline. Jerome Brown at his linebacker spot leads that effort.

Poquoson with Josh Mitchell punt it away.

So Lake Taylor gets it at their own 41, following the return, with 5:00 even showing on the clock. Promus Royal from the QB spot keeps it and breaks off a 12-yard run. The Titans can make it tough for defenses that haven't seen their style before with the ability to use the pitch, dive and trap or counter run plays.

Darian McKenzie comes in and gets consecutive five-yard runs before the Titans go to the air and it's intercepted on a beautiful play by Poquoson DB Jayson Kell. So the Bull Islanders keep the Titans from drawing close and will have it at their own 5 with 3:19 left in the opening frame.
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