This is the new inflatable helmet the Royals will be running through when they enter the field this year.
On a humid Friday night in Cochran, the Royals football team had its final preperation for the 2006 season. The scrimmage against the Rutland Hurricanes showed Bleckley was indeed ready to play.
Bleckley won the toss, but deferred. When the Royals got the ball after stopping Rutland, they marched down the field with a heavy dose of Zeke Rozier. The senior tailback would score one of his three toucdowns to give Bleckley a 6-0 lead at the 7:52 mark. The point after was no good. Rutland though showed they came to play. They answered the Royals drive with one of their own and scored with 4:06 remaining. A two-point conversion gave the 'Canes an 8-6 lead.
Rutland would take a 14-6 lead in the second quarter on another TD at the 10:50. This time though Carl Hall stopped any type of conversion. Bleckley would answer on its next possession. Brett Bowen hooked up with Tyler Dykes on a 55 yard catch and run with 9:52 left. A Rozier two-point conversion tied the score at 14.
Zeke Rozier takes it to the house. This was Bleckley's first score of the game.
Rutland took its last lead of the game with a field goal at the 6:39 point of the second quarter. The Royals took the lead for good with 3:56 in the second on a second Rozier touchdown. Rutland fumbled the ball late in the first half, Zeke Rozier recovered it and ran it back for another score. The Royals took a 28-17 lead into the half.
The Royal Kingsmen Band were on hand during the first half of the scrimmage to help pump up the team and crowd.
In the third quarter, Rozier scored his third offensive rushing TD of the game at the 11:43 mark giving the Royals a commanding 34-17 lead. The blowout of the Hurricanes conintued in the quarter as Carl Hall caught a touchdown pass at the 5:17 point. Though the extra point failed, Bleckley had a 41-17 lead. In the fourth quarter, the two teams traded one score each. Bleckley routed the Hurriances 47-24.
Tyler Dykes outruns a Hurricane defender to score.
Zeke Rozier had 12 carries for 264 yards and three toucdowns in the win. Brett Bowen was an efficent 3 of 6 for 87 yards and one TD. The Royals open the regular season on September 1 at home against Jones County. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Cochran High School region championship team of Joe Hubbard will be honored at the game at 7 p.m.
