[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
|
Roane County quarterback Josh Drake lofts a pass over leaping lineman Michael Miller of Bluefield during the Beavers’ 52-20 Class AA playoff victory Friday at Mitchell Stadium.
|
Sports Editor - Roane County ran into the perfect storm Friday at Bluefield in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
A chilly, persistent rain was hardly a factor on the artificial surface at Mitchell Stadium, but a dominating performance by the No. 1 Beavers and generosity from the No. 16 Raiders combined to create a 52-20 rout for the home team.
Roane suffered five turnovers in a first half that saw the undefeated Beavers build a 52-0 advantage. The Raiders managed three second-half scores against the Bluefield reserves.
“I really thought they were pretty good,” Roane head coach Tom Hardman said. “And when we turned the ball over like that, we handed it to them.”
The onslaught began just 19 seconds into the game when Will Cole hit speedy wideout Ansel Ponder with a short pass that he carried 63 yards for a touchdown. Roane took over at its own 38 after the kickoff and promptly gave up the ball on a high shotgun snap from center Seth Williams. Shaun Brooks cashed in on a 4-yard run for Bluefield and the rout was on.
“I think it was nerves,” Hardman said. “We’d really not had any bad snaps this season and we’ve been in the shotgun 70 percent of the time.”
A second misplayed snap was covered by the Beavers at the Raider 24. That set up a Cole to Brooks TD toss that covered 6 yards.
“When they get a 20-yard field they make you pay,” Hardman said. “We knew coming in that we had to avoid that.”
Already leading 19-0, Bluefield put up 33 points in the second quarter. Ponder caught a 43-yard pass from Cole for one score and Marcus Patterson, Brooks, Cole and Jake Lilly added rushing scores. The 38-yard TD by Brooks was scintillating, as the senior halfback ran left, came to a dead stop, and then reversed field to the right as he outraced Raiders to the end zone.
The Beaver scoring drives were aided by a fumbled kickoff by Eric Jarvis and a pair of interceptions by quarterback Josh Drake.
Hardman was obviously impressed by the 10-0 Beavers, who advanced to host Chapmanville in a quarterfinal game.
“It was a combination of their speed and execution, their ability to fly around the football field,” he said. “They’re No. 1 rated and I think they deserve that.”
After rolling up 300 yards of offense in the first half to 17 for the Raiders, Bluefield coach Fred Simon played his junior varsity the entire second half. Roane took advantage immediately, scoring on its first possession when Drake hit his brother Jordan for a 15-yard TD.
The Raiders added a pair of fourth quarter scores on a 1-yard run by Justin Griffin and a 59-yard dash by Josh Drake.
After being limited to minus-16 yards rushing in the first half, Roane finished with 235. Griffin led the way with 75 on 11 carries, all in the second half, and Josh Drake added 69, with 98 coming on his last four runs of the game to help erase some earlier losses.
The game marked the end of an unusual season for Roane, which finished 5-6 for its first losing record in five years, but still reached the playoffs.
“It was an odd year,” Hardman agreed. “But we’re glad we had the opportunity. I feel like we accomplished some goals. We made our second playoff appearance in a row and that has to count for something.”
See complete stats in Nov. 15 print edition.
