FAIRLEA- On a night when the Greenbrier East Spartans would get the large crowd in the game, it seemed like the Alleghany (VA) Cougars, who also brought a big fanbase, would find a way to take them right back out of it.
In the third edition of the Battle-of-the-Border and for the rights to hoist the ABK trophy, it was the Cougars who escaped Fairlea with a 36-26 victory and a nice ride back across the Virginia state line.
The Spartans opened the game with a productive 10-plqy drive that got them in Alleghany territory, but eventually the drive stalled and ended in a turnover on downs.
That drive followed with the Cougars’ first possession, and it resulted in a quick three-and-out.
The first quarter came to a close in a scoreless tie as both defenses stood tall, but you could sense Alleghany coming together after a 37-yard completion from Des Jordan to Austin Greene. A few plays later and early in the second quarter, Jordan hit Jay Godfrey over the middle for a 12-yard pickup on 4th-and-11. Jordan capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run and gave his Cougars a 7-0 lead just a minute-and-a-half into the second.
But the Spartans (2-1) answered with a long, methodical drive of their own. After a 21-yard completion to Nate Suttle, Hamric found Grant Burdette for a nice hookup down the Cougars 4-yard line. From there, Alleghany transfer and current Spartan AJ Godfrey punched it across the goal line, and the Spartans tied the game at 7-all with 5:54 remaining in the first half.
On their final full drive before halftime, Alleghany went with Greenbrier East transfer Brady May to get them into enemy territory. May ran hard and had several nice runs on the possession. Then, on a third-and-five, Jordan rolled out to the right side, came back left, juked a couple times, and then found his way to the corner of the pylon as the Cougars took a 13-7 lead into the break.
Greenbrier East forced the Cougars to punt on their opening series of the second half, but when East took the ball, Jay Godfrey, a thorn in the Spartans side a year ago, stepped in front of a Hamric pass and intercepted it just before it hit the ground and the Cougars offense came back on the field.
And this time, Alleghany (2-0) rode Nicely. The senior had a 9-yard run, then ripped off one for 12 more. On the third carry, he made a nice stop and cut move and scored on an 11-yard touchdown run with 7:47 left in the third. Jordan ran in the 2-point attempt and made the score 21-7, Cougars.
With their backs starting to go against the wall, the Spartans kept pace.
An 11-yard completion to Suttle on third-and-10 kept Greenbrier East going. A few plays later, Hamric hit Burdette over the middle which the senior turned into a 49-yard catch and run. AJ Godfrey finished the drive in a big way with a 6-yard TD run. That made the score 21-14 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.
East’s defense kept the momentum on the Spartan sideline and got the Cougars to go three-and-out as the Spartan stands went into a frenzy with their offense headed back on the field.
But on the possession, AJ Godfrey made a tough run up the middle and trying to get extra yardage with a second and third effort, Godfrey fumbled and Buddy Leisure-White scooped it up and raced the other way 58 yards for a scoop and score. With that sudden turn of events, Alleghany held a 28-14 advantage.
But Greenbrier East is different this year with a never-say-die attitude. AJ Godfrey scored again, this time from 10 yards away, and the Spartans cut their deficit to 28-20 after the 2-point pass attempt was picked by Jordan.
However, the Cougars always had an answer. On the next series, Greene caught a long 33-yard pass that set the Cougars up at the Spartan 11-yard line. A couple plays later, they called Jordan’s number again. The lefty scrambled his way into the end zone for an 11-yard TD run and a 36-20 lead following the 2-point catch from Sarge Persinger.
Later in the quarter, the game seemed like it was over until Burdette hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass with 2:29 to go. On the 2-point conversion attempt, the Spartans could have cut the deficit to just one score and it appeared as though that would happen. AJ Godfrey looked like he was headed the end zone, but Alleghany’s Jay Godfrey laid a huge hit on his former teammate at the 1-yard line to halt the Spartans comeback hopes.
The Cougars then ran out the clock to seal their win.
Godfrey led East again with 143 yards on 26 carries and three scores. Hamric was 13-of-26 for 206 yards, a TD, and two interceptions. Burdette led the East pass catchers with 124 yards and a score on five catches and Suttle grabbed six catches for 61 yards.
For the Cougars, Jordan was 9-for-12 for 117 yards. He also ran for 36 more and three scores. Nicely had 11 rushes for 70 yards and May added 47. In all, the Cougars ran for 169 on the night. Greene led Alleghany in receiving with five catches for 89 yards.
The Spartans have an off week next Friday and will return to the field on September 26 at home to face Oak Hill.
Scoring Plays:
A: 7-0 Jordan 3-yd run (Phillips kick)
GE: 7-7 Godfrey 4-yd run (Stone kick)
A: 13-7 Jordan 5-yd run (kick failed)
A: 21-7 Nicely 11-yd run (Jordan run)
GE: 21-14 Godfrey 6-yd run (Stone kick)
A: 28-14 Leisure-White 58-yd fumble return (Phillips kick)
GE: 28-20 Godfrey 10-yd run (pass failed)
A: 36-20 Jordan 11-yd run (Jordan to Persinger)
GE: 36-26 Burdette 32-yd reception (pass failed)
