James not ready to bid Brickie Bowl farewell

Hobart's Joey Aleman (left) is triped up by West Side's Antonio Ellis.
(Charles Mitchell/For the Post-Tribune)

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HOBART -- Bobby James said goodbye again to the Brickie Bowl in his own special way.

The Brickies had a big send-off for the grand old field last week for the final regular season game at the Don Howell Brickie Bowl before they move onto their new place next year.

Hobart, however, is hoping the field gets more action before they have to lock the gates for good.

James, along with a host of West Side errors, made certain the season would live on for the Brickies after they demolished West Side 59-12 Friday in the first round of the Class 4A sectionals.

The game had a bizarre ending. Officials called the contest abruptly with about three minutes left after lightning filled the sky just east of the field. That came after the whole second half was played with a running clock.

"The way it started and the way it ended was (strange)," Hobart coach Wally McCormack said.

It started badly for West Side and just kept getting worse as the rain continued to pelt the field.

The Cougars turned the ball over on their first three possessions and Hobart turned all of the miscues into touchdowns.

James was the chief recipient of the turnovers.

James scored four times in the first quarter on interception returns of 28 and 32 yards, a 13-yard pass from Matt Barras and a 12-yard fumble return.

The game was essentially over after the third series.

West Side fumbled on its second play from scrimmage and Jack France picked up the ball at the 14.

A couple of plays later, Richard Oglesby rumbled in from the 1 with 9:45 left in the first quarter.

The Cougars tried to get something going again on their next possession but they coughed up the ball again on the wet field. James picked up the ball in the backfield and rolled in from the 12.

West Side was stymied again on when they got the ball. After three plays, they attempted a punt that traveled just four yards.

Hobart took over at the 21 and Nathan Harrell eventually scored from 16-yards out, giving the Brickies 26-0 lead.

For James, it was different feeling getting his hands on the ball on defense.

Last year, James was strictly an offensive guy, playing mostly wide out.

He had never scored a touchdown on defense during his high school career.

"That was fun," he said.

Hobart scored twice more in an agonizingly long first quarter.

A 32-yard touchdown pass from Matt Barras to roger Cardwell gave the Brickies a 39-0 lead.

West Side ruined the shutout when Marquis Nichols caught a 52-yard pass from Antonio Ellis in the second quarter for a touchdown. Nichols had another score on a 74-yard pass from Ellis in the third quarter.