Floyd County Advances With Late TD
Floyd County back-up quarterback Matt Hollandsworth looks for an open receiver during Saturday's Group A, Division 2 state semifinal game against Lebanon. The Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown with six seconds left in the game to advance to next Saturday's state championship game against Gretna.
Photo by Larry Middleton
FLOYD, VA - Christian Rodrigue caught the tying touchdown with six seconds remaining in the game and Nathan Weiss converted the extra point to give Floyd County a thrilling come-from-behind 14-13 victory against Lebanon Saturday afternoon in the Group A, Division 2 state semifinals.
The Buffaloes (13-0) will now take on Gretna (12-1) in the Group A, Division 2 state finals on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Salem Stadium in Salem. Game time is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
Trailing 13-7 with late in the fourth quarter, Floyd County recovered a Lebanon (9-4) fumble at its own 17-yard line with 1:38 remaining. Facing a fourth-and-20 from their own 42-yard line quarterback Luke Harris connected with Ethan Griffith for a first-down at the Pioneers' 24-yard line with just under a minute remaining. Two plays later, Harris hit Rodrigue on an 8-yard aerial strike for the tying touchdown and Weiss connected on the PAT to give the Buffaloes a 14-13 lead with just six seconds on the clock. Lebanon had one final chance to win the game, but was unable to get the ball downfield.
Floyd County took an early 7-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 13-yard scamper by Harris and Weiss' PAT.
Neither team could find the end zone in the second quarter, as the Buffaloes headed into the locker room leading 7-0.
The Pioneers came out in the second half and struck for a pair of third quarter touchdowns. A 6-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Jessee to Widner tied the game at 7-7. Lebanon would then take the lead, 13-7, on a 52-yard gallop by Tarrell Lee.
Lebanon finished the game with 248 yards of total offense, with 198 of those yards coming on the ground. McClanahan led the Pioneers ground game with 89 yards on seven carries and Jerome Cobb added 56 yards on 21 carries.
Floyd County tallied 205 yards of total offense, with 142 yards coming via airmail. Quarterback Luke Harris completed 15-of-24 passes for 141 yards. Harris also rushed for another 28 yards and scored once rushing and passed for another touchdown.
Lebanon - 0 0 13 0 - 13
Floyd Co - 7 0 0 7 - 14
