Mother Nature has not been very cooperative to

high school football games in the state of Virginia so far this season.

Saturday night, however, rain held off long enough for Hylton

quarterback Tristen Simmons to pick apart Gar-Field's defense en route to a 28-0

victory.

Simmons, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound junior, completed 12-of-21

passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs (4-0, 1-0 Cardinal

District), the defending Group AAA Division 6 state champions, rolled to their

11th consecutive win over Gar-Field (2-2, 0-1 Cardinal District).

``Coming in to tonight's game we knew that we were going to

throw the ball against this team," Simmons said. ``They weren't expecting

us to throw as much as we did and it kind of caught them off guard."

Simmons completed passes to four different receivers, with

senior Dominique Mitchell his primary receiver throughout the first half.

Simmons found the 6-3, 190-pounder six times for 102 yards. Mitchell had a

17-yard touchdown reception with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half

and completed his scoring for the night with a two-point conversion to push

Hylton's halftime lead to 14-0.

Senior wide receiver Deon Butler, an All-Journal selection at

cornerback in 2002, caught four passes for 96 yards, including a 56-yard scamper

for a touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the third quarter. Butler caught Simmons'

strike in the middle of the field, stopped, cut back to his left and

rambled down the sideline untouched for the score.

``We had talked about that play," said Butler. ``We

caught the linebackers flat and once I got past the linebackers, [Simmons]

zipped the ball right in to me. I made a couple of moves and my teammates did

some really good blocking for me down field. [Gar-Field was] just not expecting

us to throw like this."

The Bulldogs' first touchdown came with 2:13 remaining in the

first quarter as senior running back Endor Cooper, an All-Journal pick at

linebacker in 2002, powered his way into the end zone from two yards out.

Gar-Field senior All-Journal lineman Clint Sintim blocked the point after

attempt by junior kicker Matt Martinez and the Bulldogs led 6-0.

Hylton, which is now 68-4 since 1998, concluded its scoring

in the fourth quarter as Simmons found senior receiver Tyjuann Carroll with a

16-yard scoring toss. Martinez added the extra point for a 28-0 advantage.

That touchdown was set up when Bulldogs senior defensive

lineman Michael Sledz recovered a Gar-Field fumble at the 19 after a punt by

junior R.J. Harper. Three plays later, Simmons found Carroll for the touchdown.

Although Hylton rushed for only 98 yards, it was playing

without starting running backs Courtney Anderson, a sophomore out with an

injured shoulder, and Travis Carr, a senior who hurt his knee in the game

against Osbourn Park on Sept. 12. Senior running backs Cooper and James Salazar

provided the Bulldogs with enough of a ground attack to keep the Gar-Field

defense off balance all night.

``They did just a super job for us tonight," said

Butler. ``They came in and worked real hard when they got the ball and their

running allowed our passing game to open up. They really stepped up for us in a

big way."

Powering the Bulldogs' defense were senior lineman Donnell

Sands, senior linebacker Jason Crew and junior lineman T.J. Jackson, each with a

sack. Cooper recovered a fumble, while All-Journal senior linebacker Jackie

Watkins and Butler recorded tackles for loss.

Senior punter Mark Close and senior linebacker Greg Tekampe

each recovered fumbles for Gar-Field. The Indians, trying to avoid the shutout,

attempted a 46-yard field goal as time expired, but Close's boot was wide left

and short.