FAIRLEA- The Greenbrier East Spartans had a golden opportunity on Friday night to pick up a key win and get a step closer to that coveted home playoff game.
But at the end of the Friday night, where the cold air filled the stadium, the Class AAA 5th ranked Spartans fell to the 3rd ranked Class AA Bluefield Beavers 27-13.
East was held scoreless in the second half after holding a 13-7 lead in the first quarter.
On the first possession of the night, Greenbrier Eastr made things look rather easy. They consistently moved the ball down the field and eventually Brody Hamric found a wide-open Grant Burdette for a 26-yard touchdown catch.
But on the following series, the Beavers’ first of the night, they too went right down the field with ease. They controlled the clock and capped a 14-play, 67-yard drive with a TD pass from Max Simpson to Tylee Simon and Bluefield tied the game at 7-7 with just 1:30 left in the half.
But yet again, that Spartan offense came calling. With just a few seconds left in the first quarter, Hamric hit Braylon Godfrey on a crossing pattern that the junior receiver turned into a huge 57-yard touchdown. The short 3-play, 61-yard drive made it 13-7 as the first quarter ended.
Both teams traded a possession as the defenses stood out with East’s freshman D.P. Seams picking off a Simpson pass over the middle of the field. On his return, however, the Spartans (5-3) drew a penalty and were backed up deep inside their own territory and eventually had to punt.
The Beavers then capitalized.
Simpson hit Pax Calhoun for a 20-yard completion then a couple plays later, Jeremiah Jones ran for 17 more. Calhoun then caught an 18-yarder that got him down to the 1-yard line. From there, Simpson plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard score and the Beavers took a 14-13 lead at the break.
Bluefield’s first drive of the second half set the tone for the rest of the night. They turned it over on downs when Logan Vanfosson sacked Simpson, but they kept the ball more than half of the third quarter and their goal of shortening the game was going as planned. That left the Spartans just under five minutes on the clock and they also returned the favor with a turnover on downs.
Bluefield (7-2) added two more scores in the fourth quarter to pull away for good, an 11-yard pass to Calhoun and a physical 20-yard run from Jones. The Spartans had an opportunity in between those two drives but turned it over.
Despite the loss, East’s defense played well, led by the numerous tackles from Keshawn Bland, and held Bluefield to just 270 yards. The Spartans offense could just muster 236 with nearly 130 of those on the first two drives.
AJ Godfrey had 28 carries and 94 yards for Greenbrier East. Hamric went 11-of-24 for 146 yards and two TDs. Burdette had six receptions for 57 yards and a score, and Godfrey had one for 57 and a TD.
Jones led Bluefield with 102 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. Simpson was 17-of-26 for 160 yards and two total TDs. The receiver, Calhoun, had seven catches, 91 yards, and a score.
The Spartans will get another crack at a top 10 AA school when they host their border rivals, the James Monroe Mavericks, for the first time in 10 years. The game will be played on Halloween night and will also serve as the Spartans’ senior night.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, WRON.
