When opportunity strikes, take it.

Then run the daylight out of it and don't stop until you get your point across.

The Battlefield varsity football team (9-2) did just that on a bitterly cold night at home during the Northwest Regional semi-finals, converting three Franklin County turnovers into touchdowns as part of a 38-20 win.

"Our defense was great," said Battlefield quarterback Ryan Swingle. "I can always trust them, that they'll get my back."

Such a win gives the Cedar Run District champs a chance to defend their regional championship next week in the title match. A win there would then allow Battlefield to compete for its second-straight Group AAA Division 6 state crown.

Both Battlefield and Franklin County put up an even fight for most of the first quarter, with BHS finally scoring first at the 1:13 mark on a third-and-goal rush by Michael Tolliver.

The senior trailed his fullback from inside the 2 yard line, lowered his shoulders and rolled across the plane from the center-left side of the offensive line.

"If we give them the slightest hole, they'll break," said senior lineman Jake Payne about his team's running backs.

The Eagles and Bobcats exchanged punts to start the second quarter, with a boot by Swingle, who throws right-handed but punts left-footed, pinning the Eagles inside their own 10 yard line.

However, Swingle immediately found himself back on offense one play later when the BHS defense pounced on a loose ball at the 8 yard line, setting up first-and-goal.

The junior quarterback connected with his wideout classmate Trent Saflin near the front-left corner of the south end zone after Saflin gain separation from the Franklin County cornerback and broke toward the BHS sidelines.

Running back Alex Keys countered on the visiting team's next possession with a 54-yard rush that put the Eagles at the Battlefield 2 yard line.

After two unsuccessful shots at the end zone, quarterback Kyle Ellis ducked his head and fell forward, leaving a mass of bodies stacked up at the goal line.

A referee stepped into the middle of the fray and, after a delayed call, signaled touchdown with 2:18 left on the clock.

Battlefield senior Andrew Smith made sure the Bobcats did not lose any momentum though. The senior picked up the ensuing kick off on a bounce at the 17 yard line, bounced off two would-be tacklers, brushed aside another and spun in a full 360-circle as he ricocheted off the next like a pinball.

He used his free hand to maintain balance by pushing himself off the turf and kept darting down the field, picking up 46 yards to place Battlefield on the Franklin County 37 yard line.

Saflin and sophomore tight end Brandon Whaley both grabbed first-down throws and Smith added another nine yards, stopping the clock with seconds to go at 6 yard line.

Sophomore kicker Conner Feehan booted a 22-yard chip shot from the left hash just as time expired, giving Battlefield a 17-7 advantage heading into half time.

"Any type of lead against any team in the playoffs is good because it gives you a little bit of a cushion and it gives you momentum throughout the game," said Smith. "And so once we got that (first touchdown), we had the momentum throughout the first half and were able to score again."

About midway through the third quarter, a four-yard rush by Smith behind two fullbacks blocking for him resulted in Battlefield's third touchdown of the game.

Franklin County struck back on its next possession after a 21-yard pick-up on a third-and-10 throw to David McGhee set up the Eagles with a first down at the BHS 3 yard line.

Keys leapt over the Battlefield defense on the goal line three plays later to close that gap to 10 points as 2:24 showed on the clock in the third quarter.

By the start of the next quarter, however, things turned ugly for the once-charging Eagle offense.

Back-to-back Franklin County possessions resulted in interceptions returned for touchdowns in the as BHS seniors Smith and Nick Newman both picked off errant passes and ran to the end zone virtually uncontested.

On a throw toward the Eagles' sideline, Newman snatched the pick at the 37 and did his best 40-yard dash run into the end zone with10:37 remaining on the clock.

Two plays later, Smith plucked a second-and-11 pass out of the air at the 27.

Facing an empty Eagle backfield, he waltzed his way to pay-dirt with only BHS jerseys nearby.

"The running back came flying out" of the backfield, said Smith. "The quarterback just flew a flat ball and I just was right there."

The two defensive touchdowns came only 59 seconds apart and appeared to demoralize the Eagles' offense as Franklin County relied heavily on their ground game for the remainder of the game.

Keys said Battlefield's ability to capitalize on turnovers amounted to a "game changer."

Still, the senior back made sure to end his football career and the Franklin County season on at least some bit of a flair, taking a lateral toss 20 yards down field and diving over the plane for a touchdown with 31 seconds left in regulation.

The leaping plunge to the end zone came despite the fact that no defender was actually near Keys.

"I just want to put a mark on the last play of the season," said Keys, adding that he wanted his teammates to know the season was "not all frowns" just because of a loss.

Battlefield is set to compete in the Northwest Regional championship on Friday, Nov. 25.