SHADY SPRING- With the Greenbrier East Spartans staring consecutive loss number six in the face on Friday night at Shady Spring, something magical hit the air and brought all the skill–and a little luck– to the Spartan sideline.
Greenbrier East erased a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit and scored the game’s final 27 points to defeat Shady Spring, 34-28, in overtime Friday night, October 2.
The victory was the Spartans’ first of the season, improving their record to 1-5, and kept them unbeaten against the Tigers at 9-0 all time.
The comeback ranks among the biggest and best in Greenbrier East football history.
“What an exciting football game for a true fan,” coach Ray Lee said after the game.
“I’m so proud of our young men (team).”
Shady Spring (2-4) built a 28-7 lead on touchdown passes from Myles Clark to Gage Spears (17 yards) and Jacob Claypool (43 yards). Clark later connected with Spears for an 81-yard score with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter, putting the Tigers ahead by three touchdowns and giving them a sense of comfort and most likely a thought that the game was over.
The Spartans first score in that stretch was an impressive 54-yard catch by Braylen Godfrey from quarterback Sam Gabbert.
But about that comeback.
The Spartans answered in a hurry and got a Keshawn Bland 31-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14 with 5:38 left in the contest. After Greenbrier East’s defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Adam Terry, they took the ball back at the Shady 10-yard line. Four plays later, Bland scored again on a 6-yard run to pull the Spartans within seven, 28-21 with 4:41 still to play.
After a stellar defensive effort that included some big plays including a timely sack from John Trout that forced the Tigers into a 4th-and-38, East got the ball back and Bland found the end zone from four yards out with only six seconds remaining, tying the game at 28-28, and sending into an extra session. A key play on that drive was a roughing the passer penalty on the Tigers on an incomplete pass on fourth down. It gave the Spartans a fresh new set of them, and they took advantage.
“They could have given up being down 28-7 but they were so resilient to keep fighting and supporting each other,” Lee said.
In overtime, Greenbrier East stopped Shady Spring on fourth down, then Bland capped the comeback with a 5-yard touchdown run for the winning score.
Bland finished with 157 rushing yards on 25 carries and scored all four of East’s touchdowns. Amazingly, they were all the first touchdowns of his career.
“Keshawn Bland scored the last four touchdowns and put his team on his shoulders for everyone to get on board, and they followed his passion, determination, and leadership,” Lee stated.
Gabbert completed 15 of 24 passes for 181 yards, including the 54-yard touchdown to Godfrey, who caught 10 passes for 129 yards. Freshman Peyton Ervin complimented Bland well with 58 rushing yards on 12 carries. The team gained 386 total.
Bland, Mykyl Brackenridge, Terry, Trout, and others all stood out on the defensive side and Jet Whitworth added a 73-yard kickoff return. Paul Kucera was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points.
What a great win for this team at this point in our season,” Lee concluded.
Greenbrier East will get to enjoy this one a little longer this week as they are off next Friday, October 9. They will return home on October 16 for a homecoming bout with Nicholas County. That one will be the first of four consecutive home games to finish out the year.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, Radio Greenbrier.
