Luray breaks four-game win streak, travel to Central next Friday
By Randy Arrington
STRASBURG, Oct. 17 — The Luray Bulldogs faced their toughest challenge yet on Friday night as they traveled to Strasburg to take on a team that went to the Class 2 state playoffs last season and returned nearly all their starters from a year ago. While the Bulldogs stood up to the challenge in the first half, the Rams overpowered them down the stretch and scored on their first four possessions of the second half to capture a 42-6 Bull Run District win.
After the game, LHS head coach Lynn “Skip” Hamilton made his players aware of the challenge that they had faced on the road.
“I said don’t let this game define you. We worked hard in the off-season to get where we are right now, and I said that right there is a state finalist team from last year that returned almost 28 seniors, almost all the starters came back. I think they graduated maybe three off both sides offense and defense,” Hamilton told PVN after the game. “That’s the best team I’ve seen in a while…I mean the line is amazing, the backs… I mean that’s a great team and Coach Tripp [Lamb] has done a good job of getting those boys buying into his program and they are reaping the benefits.”
As daunting as the task was before them, Luray held their own in the first 24 minutes. The Bulldogs held the Rams to only one offensive score and made three fourth-down stops on defense lead by junior Trey Guzy. However, Luray committed two key turnovers that stopped what little momentum they were able to build on offense. A fumble on their first possession stopped a four-play drive that had gained 33 yards. Two possessions later an interception was snagged out of the air by Strasburg senior Brayden Hough, who sprinted 35 yards to the end zone for a “pick six.” The Rams lead 14-0 at the half.
Strasburg started the second half by scoring in only three plays. Hough hit junior Quincy Williams for a 47-yard touchdown pass that quickly made the score 21-0.
“Hats off to Strasburg, they pulled a play out of their playbook that I haven’t seen them run in probably five years,” said Hamilton. “It’s where the back goes right down the middle, and with the defense that we were running that’s the perfect play to call against it. So, good call on their part.”
Williams scored Strasburg’s first touchdown at the end of the first quarter on a 39-yard run. The standout junior running back then opened the second half with a 47-yard touchdown reception, and he would score again late in the third quarter from 27 yards out. Williams solidified his role as one of the top players in the region, finishing the night with 141 yards rushing on 13 carries (10.8 ypc) and three total touchdowns.
“I mean what can you say about Quincy Williams,” said Hamilton. “Tough kid…faster than what I saw on film. When you see him up close, it’s just like… dang.”
The Rams would score on their first four possessions of the second half and began substituting freely in the fourth quarter, leading 42-0 with 7:39 left in the game.
“We just had some missed tackles right there and after it got a little bit out of hand you know… the kids are fighting as hard as they can, but you know… they just steamrolled us,” said Hamilton.
The one offensive bright spot for Luray came midway through the fourth when sophomore Caleb Cyphert scored from five yards out to avoid the shutout. The successful five-play drive was set up by a 67-yard kickoff return by sophomore Mason Cubbage.
Cyphert lead Luray’s stymied rushing attack with 62 yards on 13 carries (4.8 ypc) and a touchdown. Junior Ryan Jenkins will have to wait another week to break the 1,000-yard mark for the season, as the Rams’ defense held him to only 24 yards on 10 carries. Senior Cason Bryant was held to just 30 yards on eight carries. Through the air, junior Ayden Haddock was one-for-six for 10 yards.
Overall, Luray put up 125 yards of offense, but were penalized seven times for 42 yards (all but two of those penalties came on offense, taking away 32 yards). The Bulldogs had two more possessions than Strasburg ran two more plays, and held the ball for nearly seven more minutes during the game.
However, the Rams picked up twice as many first downs (10 to five) and posted 367 yards of offense, while being penalized five times for 34 yards. Strasburg committed no turnovers, scored six points on defense, and all five scoring drives on offense were five plays or less.
Both teams have three games remaining in the regular season, all within the Bull Run District. Next week, Strasburg (6-1) hopes to continue a five-game winning streak as they host Clarke County (1-6), who picked up their first win of the season on Friday night against Page County, 34-6. Luray (4-3) travels to Woodstock to take on Central (4-3) after the Falcons defeated Madison County on Friday, 55-24.
“We’ve got to use this to get better…so that’s what I told the guys, I said you have about two seconds to feel sorry for yourself and now it’s done,” Hamilton said after Friday night’s loss. “We’ve got to use this as motivation to get ready for Central because they are not gonna take it easy on us either.”
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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