CLARKSBURG (WVDN) – The Greenbrier East Spartans hit the road to Harrison County on Friday, Sept. 9 and recorded their first win of the season in impressive fashion, 42-14 over the Robert C. Byrd Eagles.
Robert C. Byrd was ranked the 10th best team in the entire state regardless of Class, by Metro News Power Index entering the night.
Ian Cline returned to his 2021 self and finished with 249 yards rushing on 25 carries with three touchdowns. He also caught four passes for an additional 94 yards and another score.
The Spartans (1-2) controlled the game from late in the first quarter until the final clock hit zeroes.
After a scoreless first quarter, East got going in the second. Cline ran for 49 yards on East’s second drive of the game which began in the waning minutes of the opening period. After he rumbled for 13 more yards and Monquelle Davis picked up 22, Cline capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Spartan lead with 10:33 left in the first half. The drive went 99 yards on 12 plays and set the tone for the rest of the night. A couple possessions later, after the Spartans shut the Eagles (1-2) down on two straight drives, East got the ball back and struck quickly. Davis found a streaking Cline wide open downfield for a 67-yard touchdown strike as East went up 14-0 and sent a shockwave throughout the stadium.
That score remained the same at the break as the Spartan defense just stymied the high-powered Eagle offense.
The Spartans needed to start the second half on a high note to keep the momentum going and it is exactly what they did. A couple 20-yard runs from Cline highlighted the series with the second one going for a touchdown. After the 73-yard drive, the Spartans led 21-0.
The East defense continued to make plays and forced RCB into another punt which Lucas McCallister brought back to the Eagles 30-yard line on a long return.
On the second play, backup quarterback Gavin Bennett found Davis down the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown pass and the rout was on as East was flexing their muscle. That made it 28-0 with 7:49 left in the third.
Jake Pate picked off RCB quarterback Nick George on the ensuing drive. That set up Pate’s 11-yard TD run as coach Ray Lee rewarded the junior on offense for the defensive play he had just made.
RCB added a couple meaningless touchdowns late, one a 75-yard run from Latrell Jones, but Cline bested that effort with a 79-yarder of his own to wrap up the Spartans scoring for the night.
East held George, who had dominated his first two games, to just 9-for-22 passing and 88 yards
The Spartans put up 535 yards and held the Eagles to just 227. Both numbers were the complete opposite of what East had shown in the first two weeks. The Spartans also had 21 first downs compared to just seven for the Eagles.
Cline picked up McDonald’s player of the game honors. Davis threw for 122 yards, ran for 63 and had the 34-yard TD reception.
It was the Spartans first win ever over RCB.
East hits the road again this Friday night, Sept. 16 to face Stuarts Draft in Virginia. The game preview will be available soon.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, WRON.
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