GLEN DANIEL – A week removed from a total team effort and a big win over a long-time rival, Greenbrier West headed into foreign territory in week three hoping to build on that effort against a new opponent. Liberty, one of four never faced schools on the Cavaliers’ schedule, was a team desperate for a win following an 0-2 start. Three losses to begin the season would almost certainly doom any chances of qualifying for the playoffs in a loaded Class AA field.
The first quarter opened with fireworks as both teams traded big plays and early scores. For the third consecutive game, Greenbrier West promptly marched down the field and scored on the opening drive. The Cavaliers gashed the Raiders on the ground, moving 60 yards in only four plays on alternating runs between Ben Butler and Colton Dunbar. Dunbar punched it in over the right side from six yards out, then ran to his left for a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead at the 10:59 mark of the first quarter.
Liberty countered with a decent kick return that was aided by a penalty, starting the Raiders out at the West 49-yard line. Five plays later, Liberty quarterback Jaxson Workman rumbled over the left side for a 15-yard touchdown run. Parker Hodges kicked the PAT and West held a slim 8-7 lead with 8:45 to go in the opening quarter.
Greenbrier West picked up where they left off, even if the sledding got a little tougher. Dunbar and Butler did the heavy lifting again, mostly hitting the edge on sweeps and off-tackle runs. It took the Cavaliers ten plays to march 63 yards, this time capped off with a 10-yard Butler score that saw him roll over a defender at the goal line for the score. A spectacular two-point conversion run by Dunbar was negated when the 6’4” state champion hurdler skied over Liberty’s Parker Hodges and into the endzone. NFHS rules state a player cannot hurdle a player that is upright with both feet contacting the field, moving the Cavaliers back in their attempt for a conversion. Dunbar’s subsequent pass attempt to Mason Ward was intercepted in the endzone, keeping the West advantage at 14-7 lead with 4:17 left in the first quarter.
Liberty once again matched the Cavaliers’ scoring drive. Workman and tailback Isaac Williams alternated runs and marched the Raiders 43 yards in eight plays. On play nine, facing a fourth and one at the West 17-yard line, Workman split the Cavalier defense and carried into the endzone for his second score of the quarter. Hodges nailed the PAT and tied the game at 14-14 with 1:02 left in the first quarter.
As the game transitioned into the second quarter, the Cavaliers continued to chip away at the Raider defense. Starting at their own 36-yard line, West marched down the field on the legs of Dunbar and Butler. On the eighth play of the drive, misfortune found the Cavaliers. Butler carried the ball off the left side on an option from Dunbar. After an eight-yard gain, Butler was mashed into the turf by 245 lb. linebacker Walker Smith. The impact would force Butler out of the game for the remainder of the night, eliminating what had been basically half of West’s offensive output. Three more plays gained only three yards and put greenbrier West in a fourth down play at the Raider 15-yard line. Greenbrier West offensive coordinator Isac Osborne called a timeout to discuss the team’s options. Osborne got it right. Dunbar faked a handoff to the right as tight end Scott McClung snuck into the secondary from the left side. Dunbar spun to his left and lofted a pass in McClung’s direction. McClung was behind all defenders but was unable to secure the catch, turning the ball over on downs and missing a critical scoring opportunity.
Given the success Liberty was having running the ball, the Raiders had to feel confident following their defensive stop. Workman and Williams alternated runs to move the ball from the Liberty fifteen-yard line to the Cavaliers’ eight-yard line in nine plays. On the Radiers tenth play, Workman rolled to his right looking to pass. West defensive end Emory Sanford forced the sophomore quarterback up in the pocket. Colton Chrisman rushed directly into the chest of Workman, forcing him to throw the ball in the direction of receiver Liam Daniels in the back of the endzone. Colton Dunbar snuffed the Raider drive when he stepped in front of the would-be receiver and intercepted Workman’s pass.
Liberty seemed to shake off the turnover and forced the Cavaliers into a punting situation with a quick three-and-out series. Scott McClung booted the ball to midfield where Colton Tolliver settled under it. Tolliver misjudged the ball’s flight and muffed the catch. Mason Ward swooped in and recovered the ball at the Liberty 49-yard line. With no change of possession, the punt basically advanced the ball 35 yards and gave the Cavaliers new life.
The Cavaliers showed faith in McClung despite his touchdown drop earlier in the quarter. West ran the same play the drop occurred on, but this time McClung made a contested catch for a 27-yard gain. The Raiders countered with a pressure and sack on the next play, dropping Dunbar at the Liberty 35-yard line. Dunbar attempted a screen pass to Mcclung that was tipped incomplete before Dunbar connected with Kameron Parker at the fifteen. West quickly shifted personnel, with McClung moving to quarterback and Dunbar shifting to wide receiver, alone on the right side of the formation. As time expired in the half, McClung sailed a pass to Dubar who had gotten behind the cornerback. Dunbar extended and caught the pass seemingly giving the Cavaliers at least a six-point lead and momentum heading into the halftime break. A motion penalty negated the score. McClung would fire incomplete to the left side and the two teams would go into halftime tied at 14.
When the second half started, the game wouldn’t remain tied for very long. Liberty, starting from their own 27-yard line, called Workman’s number. Working to his right, the quarterback shifted to his left as he got to the Cavalier secondary. A footrace ensued and Workman raced 73 yards for a touchdown on the team’s first play from scrimmage. A botched snap on the PAT ended in an incomplete pass but Liberty had their first lead at 20-14 with 11:43 left in the third quarter.
Senior Raider defensive back Trenton Clay kept the Liberty momentum when he forced Shane Plogger to fumble on the subsequent kickoff. The Raiders recovered the bouncing ball at their own 43-yard line. The Raiders went to a more compact, two-tight end formation and pounded at the gut of the West defense. Moving to the West 21-yard line in nine plays, the drive hit a snag when Isaac Williams didn’t handle a snap cleaning and had to scramble to beat Plogger to the ball back at the 30. Two plays later, Worman again challenged Dunbar with a deep pass down the right sideline. Dunbar played the ball perfectly, stepping in front of intended receiver Colton Tolliver for his second drive-killing interception of the night.
Starting at their own four-yard line, Dunbar and the Cavaliers moved the ball to the 29-yard line in six plays. Facing a short yardage situation, West line up in a tight formation in the backfield. Kameron Parker raced off the field. The coaching staff sent parker back onto the field and as he jogged back into position, the ball was snapped with a mass of players converging near the 30-yard line. At once, Dunbar popped out of the pile and sprinted 71 yards for an apparent score. Apparently not, though. The Cavaliers were flagged for illegal motion, wiping yet a third score away. Instead of a game-tying touchdown, the Cavaliers would be forced to punt.
A three-and-out for Liberty was just what West needed. Now in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers needed a spark. They got the spark immediately when Dunbar connected with McClung on a screen pass that moved the ball 42 yards. The spark was diffused on the next play when a low snap was recovered by the Raiders.
Liberty’s next drive was undone by a pair of bad snaps. Woman covered up a high snap on third down setting up a fourth down Raider punt. Another high snap through the punters hands was covered up back at the Liberty 20-yard line, giving West a short field and a golden opportunity. The opportunity would be short-lived, as the Cavaliers moved backwards and eventually punted the ball away from their own 35.
Liberty, bolstered by a 48-yard run from Workman, took the ball 92 yards in eight plays to seal the win. Colton Tolliver carried the ball in from 11 yards out with 2:02 left in the game. Hodges added the PAT for a 27-14 lead. Workman was the leader for the Raider offense all night, carrying 17 times for 205 yards and three scores. Overall, the Raiders rushed 42 times for 368 yards.
Colton Dunbar carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Dunbar was 3-7 passing for 79 yards. Butler, who left in the second quarter with an injury, ran 12 times for 99 yards. Colton Chrisman carried 7 times for 24yards. West’s offense managed 167 yards on 40 carries.
Greenbrier West (1-2) hosts Pocahontas County (0-3) Friday night at 7 p.m.
