Page County puts up 396 yards of offense and blocks three punts
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Sept. 26 — Page County put together another strong offensive performance coupled with some impressive special teams play to capture their second-straight win on Friday night. The Panthers amassed 396 yards on offense and blocked three punts en route to a 44-16 win over Stonewall Jackson in their Bull Run District opener at Buddy Comer Stadium.
“I always say I hate losing more than I like winning, but It feels real good tonight,” PCHS head coach Joe May said after the game. “It was another great team effort.”
Junior running back Braxton Pettit once again lead the Panthers’ ground game with 175 yards on 17 carries (10.3 ypc). Pettit came into Friday night as the No. 2 running back in the Bull Run through four games with 414 rushing yards, including 203 against Harrisonburg last week, and averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Sophomore Logan Richards put up 91 yards on 17 carries (5.4 ypc) and two touchdowns against the Generals, while big senior, 280-pound Joshua Knott recorded 22 yards on five carries with a touchdown and a pair of two-point conversions. The Panthers earned 19 first downs.
The Panther defense held Stonewall Jackson to just 189 yards of offense and just six first downs all night (only two in the second half, and two courtesy of a Page penalty). Special teams blocked three punts, despite giving up two fumbles. Two of those blocked punts came from junior Daniel Gibson, who recovered the first in the end zone for a touchdown.
The lop-sided contest, which Page lead 36-0 early in the fourth quarter, allowed Coach May the opportunity to play every Panther dressed out for the game.
“I think we dressed out probably 40 guys and I think everybody got in at least a couple of plays…[grades] nine through 12. I think it’s very important to keep everybody engaged,” the Page County coach said. “It makes me very proud when I come down the hill and we’re doing our stretch lines and we have half a field of football players. That’s not always been the case here at Page County and it really feels good.”
The Panthers opened the game with a 10-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run by Knott. After a three-and-out by the Generals, Page turned the ball over with a fumble, halting an eight-play drive. However, when another three-and-out by Stonewall lead to another punt, Gibson’s block and recovery in the end zone, coupled with a two-point conversion by Knott, put the Panthers up 14-0 with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
The Generals then put together their own 10-play drive, but only gained 19 yards. Page junior Jordan Roberts ended that drive with a big sack. Due to several bad snaps and a couple of sacks, Stonewall quarterback Carter Heishman ended the game with negative 22 yards on the ground. However, the sophomore went 6-of-16 through the air for 108 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown strike late in the fourth quarter.
Page County added one more score late in the second quarter, going 84 yards on nine plays and ending with Richards’ first touchdown and another two-point conversion by Knott. The Panthers lead 22-0 at the half.
Another blocked punt to open the second half gave Page great field position, and it only took four plays to go 30 yards as Richards found the end zone again from 3 yards out to put the Panthers up 28-0. On Stonewall’s next possession, an interception by junior Jaedyn Bywaters was called off due to a roughing the passer call against the Panthers. However, a third blocked punt sparked an eight-play, 47-yard drive by Page that ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by sophomore Luke Lam. Classmate Jordan Wallace scored Page’s final touchdown, and two big boys — sophomore Michael Finchum and sophomore Josh Morris — were allowed to punch in two-point conversions.
“We got up in the second half and the older guys wanted the younger guys to get in. We got a guy who’s probably only carried the ball three of four times in his whole life got a touchdown tonight, and that’s what it’s all about — building the teamwork and the things we’re trying to teach ’em,” Coach May said. “It’s real special to hear what some of the guys have to say when we’re in a good situation, who they want to share their success with.”
With multiple subs in the game on defense, the Generals scored twice in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Chans Harlow broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left in the game. A two-point conversion was added by his brother Chase Harlow. The score was set up when Page intercepted a pass, but then fumbled the ball on the return. Senior K.O. Franklin capped the scoring with a 64-yard touchdown reception with 2:52 left in the game. Chans Harlow added two points.
Following the 44-16 win in their district opener, the Panthers now have a bye week before returning to action at Buddy Comer Stadium on Oct. 10.
“I don’t want to jinx ourselves, but we’re pretty healthy…but what we really need that bye week for is to get ready for Strasburg because those guys are rolling, a great bunch of guys over there, great program,” Coach May said. “We’re gonna come out and give our best. We get an extra week to prepare for those guys, and just slow those guys down and get our offense going and see what we can do.”
Two big wins have allowed Coach May an opportunity to work on a few things in the last two weeks.
“We went to no huddle…two-minute drill before the half…last week we got stuck down here about the 12-yard line and couldn’t score at the end of the half so we put in our no huddle this week, and I noticed our blocking was a lot more aggressive,” he said. “We ran that power play to the right and I noticed our guys were blocking contiuously down the field, so I see we have some things that we are able to do but we don’t do all the time. So we just got to work on staying with our blocks. We’re in this old-school offense and just trying to keep the ball just like a lot of other good teams in the area, and it’s working out good for us.”
Stonewall Jackson (0-4) has only four games remaining and will next travel to Craig County on Friday, Oct. 3. The Panthers were the only Bull Run District opponent the Generals will face this fall, and they now end the season with four straight road games.
After starting out 0-3 and being outscored 147-40, Page County (2-3) has now won two-in-a-row and won the scoreboard 88-36 over the last two weeks. They next host the Rams of Strasburg (4-1) at Panther Field at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, following a bye week next Friday.
“We’re starting to come along,” Coach May said after Friday’s district win, “and our kids have really bought into what we’re doing and I really am proud of ’em.”
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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