Friday Night Roundup
East Mont's Brian Deare breaks away for some yardage in Friday night's season-opener. The Mustangs loss 26-20 in four overtimes to Narrows.
Photo by Jon Fleming
The majority of the teams in the Roanoke and New River Valleys finally opened their 2008 season Friday night, as high school football completed its second week of action. Here's a look at who came away victorious and those who came up short.
Floyd County Blanks Rural Retreat
FLOYD, VA - It was Luke Harris night in Floyd, as the quarterback had a hand in five of the Buffaloes seven touchdowns, as Floyd County opened its season with a 47-0 thrashing of Rural Retreat.
The Buffaloes (1-0) took a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter on a 4-yard and 5-yard run by Harris.
A 13-yard scamper, along with a 50-yard pass from Harris to Daniel Bradford, would make it 26-0 at the half.
Harris would once again connect with Bradford, this one for 54-yards, along with a 13-yard scamper by Zach Bonham and a 2-yard run by Drake Slusher would make it 47-0 after three quarters of play.
Harris finished the game with 323 yards of passing on a 9-of-13 effort, passing for a pair of touchdowns and running for three more. Daniel Bradford also hauled in three passes for 165 yards and scored twice.
Salem Keeps Streak Alive Against Lord Botetourt
SALEM, VA - Salem won its 35th straight regular- season game in cruising to an easy 42-20 non-district football win against Lord Botetourt Friday night at Salem Stadium.
The Spartans (1-0), who racked up 207 yards of total offense, led 35-7 at the half behind a 73-yard gallop from Derrick Hickman, a 58-yard and 32-yard run by Kirk Coles and a pair of 1-yard runs by Nathan Goad and Antonio Medley, respectively.
The Cavaliers (1-1) lone score in the first half came on a 13-yard run by Josh Colombine.
Lord Botetourt would score twice in the third quarter on a 69-yard pass from Emory Straub to Dalton Hargrove and on a 4-yard scamper by Colombine to make it 35-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
Salem would tack on another touchdown in the final quarter, this one a 5-yard run by Medley, to make the final score 42-20, Spartans.
The Cavaliers, who had 179 yards rushing, was led by Josh Colombine with 118 yards on 22 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
Kirk Coles led Salem with 149 yards and Derrick Hickman added 124 yards.
William Byrd Rallies Against Hidden Valley
VINTON, VA - An 11-yard touchdown run by John Conner with 6:45 left in the game would give William Byrd an exciting 21-20 victory against Hidden Valley in a non-district football game Friday night in Vinton.
The Titans (0-1) took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by David Turner.
The Terriers (1-0) regained the advantage on a 1-yard run by Tyler Snow to make it 7-6 early in the third quarter. The Titans regained the lead on a 1-yard run by Turner and then converted on the two-point play to make it 14-7, Hidden Valley. A 9-yard jolt by Derrick Palmer would knot the score at 14-all heading into the crucial fourth quarter.
A 1-yard run by Turner would give Hidden Valley a 20-14 lead with 8:11 left in the game. Byrd answered with the 11 yard-run by Conner at the 6:45 mark to regain the lead 21-20, and then would hold to pick up the season-opening victory.
Hidden Valley, who had 377 yards of total offense, was led by David Turner's 245 yards on 32 attempts.
William Byrd, who finished with 264 yards of total offense, was paced by 185 yards from Derrick Palmer.
William Fleming Dominates Northside
ROANOKE, VA - Northside would score the first touchdown of the game and after that, it was all William Fleming, as the Colonels cruised to an easy 37-7 non-district football win Friday night at Patrick Henry Stadium in Roanoke.
The Vikings (0-2) scored its lone touchdown of the night on a 71-yard punt return by Isaiah Martin in the opening quarter.
A 1-yard run and a 2-yard scamper by Deonta Foster, along with a 28-yard pass from Derek Brown to Shaquan Manning would give the Colonels (2-0) a 20-7 halftime lead.
In the second half, Wm. Fleming would use a 27-yard field goal by Saliou, along with an 84-yard gallop by Brown and a 12-yard jolt by Dean to make the final 37-7, Colonels.
Northside, who mustered just 119 yards of total offense, was led by Isaiah Martin's 30 yards on 12 carries.
Derek Brown led Wm. Fleming, who tallied 410 yards of total offense, with 187 yards passing and 133 yards rushing.
Bassett Cruises Past Patrick Henry
BASSETT, VA - Bassett Scored early and often in cruising to 46-7 non-district football win against Patrick Henry Friday night in Bassett.
The Bengals (2-0) took a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 69-yard run by Boo Woods and a 10-yard pass from Woods to O'Shane Valentine.
The Patriots (0-1) scored its only touchdown of the night early in the second quarter on a 95-yard pass interception by Melik Green that would make the score 14-7, Bengals.
Bassett would use another pass from Woods to Valentine, this one for 76-yards, along with a safety and a 1-yard run by Vershaun Norman to take a commanding 30-7 lead at the half.
A 10-yard run by Woods, an 11-yard pass from Woods to Todd Draper, along with a 38-yard field goal by Tyler Martin would give the Bengals a 46-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Patrick Henry was held to just 67 yards of total offense.
Bassett, who tallied a whopping 448 yards on offense, was led by quarterback Boo Woods, who accounted 230 yards rushing and 138 yards passing.
Radford Tops Galax
GALAX, VA - Radford scored 30 unanswered first half points in running away with a 37-16 non-district road football win against Galax Friday night.
The Bobcats (1-0) took a 7-0 lead after the opening quarter on a 5-yard scamper by Jon Thompson.
Radford would start pulling away in the second quarter. A 39-yard field goal by Michael Goodman, a 35-yard scoring strike from Donte Carter to Thompson, a 9-yard run by Carter, a 15-yard pass from Carter to William Saunders would give the Cats a comfortable 30-0 halftime advantage.
The Bobcats would tack on another score in the third quarter when Carter ran in from 28-yards out to make it 37-0.
Galax (1-1) avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter when they scored on a 22-yard pass from Tyler Houk to Brown and a 27-yard pass from Terrence Mazon to Brian Martin to make the final score 37-16.
Donte Carter led Radford by completing 4-of-5 passes for 89 yards, scoring three touchdowns, two through the air. He also picked up 50 yards in rushing.
James River Stops Roanoke Catholic
BUCHANAN, VA - James River picked up its first win of the season Friday night by a 19-12 margin against non-district foe Roanoke Catholic.
The Knights (1-1) took a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 1-yard run by Eric Theimer.
The Celtics (0-1) would use a 3-yard run by Zach Zoller,a 25-yard field goal by Blevins and a safety in the second quarter to take a 12-7 halftime lead.
James River would take the lead for good in the third quarter. A 4-yard pass from Jordan Talbott to Chris Ware and a 12-yard pass to Mitchell Clark would make 19-12, Knights.
Jordan Talbott connected on 14-of-20 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Knight.
Zach Zoller led the Celtics with 179 yards rushing on 28 carries and one touchdown.
Cave Spring Rolls Past Staunton River
ROANOKE, VA - Cave Spring jumped out to the early lead and never looked back in defeating Staunton River 28-6 in a non-district football encounter Friday evening in Roanoke.
The Knights (2-0) took a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 6-yard run by Michael Cole and a 2-yard scamper by Corey Reese.
A 26-yard pass from Josh Woodrum to Daniel Maloney in the second quarter and a 31-yard pass from Woodrum to Eric Jacombson in the third quarter would give Cave Spring a 28-0 advantage.
Staunton River (0-2) avoided the shutout with a 73-yard pass from Cody Jones to Wesley Gates.
