Pigskin report

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Former Bath County High School football standout John Phillips and the Dallas Cowboys fell to Green Bay 17-7 in NFL action at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The loss snapped the Cowboys' four-game win streak and they fell to 6-3 overall but stayed on top of the NFC East standings.

Phillips, a rookie tight end from Virginia, saw action on special teams and about six offensive plays in the contest. "We have been playing pretty well but we came out and struggled offensively against Green Bay," Phillips said this week from Dallas. "It's hard to play well every week and the Packers played a really good game."

Phillips has been lining up in the fullback slot in the Cowboys' offense quite a bit this season. "I do lots of motion in the I-set," he said. "I did that some at Virginia too. I'm used to adapting. Anything to help the team." Phillips' season statistics for the year include one catch for no yards and he has been in on about 98 offensive plays through nine games.

This week he gets to face the team closest to his Warm Springs home, the Washington Redskins. When asked if he had any extra motivation this week or any message to the local Redskin fans, he laughed. "Just tell them to tune in and watch the game," he said. "It should be a great one."

The Cowboys host the Redskins on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX and then will host Oakland on Thanksgiving day at 4 p.m. on CBS. John's parents, Bugs and Susan, along with his cousin, Kris, will be in the stands at Cowboys Stadium for the Redskins game while his brother, Jake, will be on hand to see him play for the first time on Thanksgiving Day.

John continues to be grateful for the opportunity that he has each day. "It is an honor and a privilege to play in the NFL and for the Dallas Cowboys," he said. "I am thankful for it every day."