Say hello to your 2010 Group AAA Division 6 state football champions, the Battlefield Bobcats.

The Battlefield varsity football team defeated Hermitage 26-7 Saturday evening in Charlottesville at the the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium. The Northwest Region champion Bobcats scored two touchdowns in each half to capture the first-ever state title for any team in the six years of Battlefield High School.

"It's one of the happiest days of my life," said Battlefield head coach Mark Cox. "Just the comradery with the kids, the team, because there are no better moments in my [mind]."

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Swingle threw his first touchdown in the first quarter to senior Andrew Smith, and completed another to Jason Hoepker in the second quarter. Devon Greene then tossed one of his own at the start of the fourth quarter as he hooked up with tight end Turner Meeks for a 10-yard score. Hermitage blocked the extra point.

Senior safety Bobo Beathard sealed the deal for the Bobcats by returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Though Hoepker missed the extra point, the score proved to be enough to break the Central Region champion.

"It was great because we watched film on that play all week and I just kept waiting for them to run it. And we practiced it and practiced it," said Beathard, explaining that he looked for a post route. He later added. "I made sure nobody could catch me."

Swingle connected with Smith during the Bobcats second possession of the first quarter on a 30-yard pass with 5:45 on the clock. Smith caught the ball at the 5 yard line and ran in the rest of the way after a broken tackle upon his catch.

Later in the second quarter, Swingle launched a 38-yard bomb to Hoepker caught at the goal line. Hoepker rolled across the plane for the score and, teeming with excitement, stuttered as he stood up only to fall backward and roll over, his cleat grazing his defender's facemask in the process. Hoepker kicked his second extra point of the game afterward to put the Bobcats up 14-0.

"Well, Jason, I don't think he likes it too much, but he's been doing a great job in the playoffs." said Cox. The kicker-defender-receiver twice in the playoffs kicked in his own extra point after scoring a touchdown.

A 6-yard touchdown run by Hermitage quarterback Bredo Riddick narrowed Battlefield's lead to 14-7 at the end of the third quarter following an 11-play, 80-yard drive that chewed 4:37 seconds off the playclock. Riddick called his own number 10 out of 11 plays, picking up five first downs along the way.

Battlefield (13-2 overall) converted a clutch third down attempt from its own 33 yard line during the team's next possession, something common with the Bobcats' entire post season. Swingle later found Wendle open for a 14-yard pick up netting the first down just shy of midfield.

Senior quarterback Devon Greene, who rotated snaps under center with Swingle throughout the post-season, picked up another first down on a third-and-one rush inside Hermitage territory.

Two plays later, Cedric Agyeman entered the playing field for the first time in weeks. A seeming man on a mission, he picked up two straight rushing first downs, eventually setting up second-and-nine at the 10 yard line.

That's when Greene broke the game open with a 10-yard touchdown strike to tight end Turner Meeks. Though Hermitage blocked the extra point attempt, the move did not spark the momentum change needed to beat the Battlefield defense.

In fact, Battlefield tallied nine sacks on the day, something Beathard and Wendle credited to the team's defensive coaching staff.

"Coach puts us in the right position. We've just got to execute," said Wendle, who also roped in an interception in the fourth quarter. He later added, "Coaches just say, 'Stop the quarterback.'"

The win by Battlefield marks the third time during the last four weeks that the Bobcats beat a previously undefeated team en route to the state title. Battlefield topped then-unbeaten Hylton and Colonial Forge by a combined score of 90-28 during the last two rounds of regions following Battlefield's first round win against Gar-Field. Hylton entered the game as one of only two teams to top the Bobcats during the regular season, sharing that honor with Osbourn. Hylton turned out to not be the only team though that Battlefield exacted its revenge against during the playoffs.

In the state semi-finals, Battlefield traveled to Burke to take out Lake Braddock 35-27 one year after the Bruins defeated the Bobcats in double overtime during Battlefield's first-ever trip to states.

Battlefield's key to victory in each game was to take an early lead and run with it from there. The Bobcats never trailed Hylton, Colonial Forge or Hermitage and only gave up an opening-drive field goal against Lake Braddock before responding with a touchdown.

"If you get on top in the state game, then you've got a great advantage," said Cox. "That put a whole lot of pressure on Hermitage and probably put a whole lot of unnecessary pressure on their quarterback to make things happen."

As for back home, Jackson said, the win is " going to (provide) memories forever."

"Our community, it's like Texas or Alabama. Everybody goes to the games," said Beathard. "Everybody watches football."