Cristian Ferguson celebrates and gives thanks as his score locked in the victory.
SALEM - The Class 2 championship featured a team arriving for the first time to the big stage and one that had been there before and wanting to finish their journey. Appomattox got things started early after stopping Stuarts Draft's offense. Tre Lawing made a perfect read on the option and gave it to Cristian Ferguson broke loose for a 46 yard run for the contest's first score. Samuele Bianco would nail the extra point and the Raiders led 7-0 with 8:09 to play in the first.
The Cougars would find success running the football. Dustyn Fitzgerald broke out to a big run going deep into Raider territory. The momentum had swung and Aaron Nice banged in from a yard out and Tyler Lingenfelter to tie the game up at 7-7 before the quarter ended.
Defense would really step up for both teams but the Cougars grip would loosen late in the 2nd. Lawing would cap off a drive with a 2 yard run. The Raiders would take a 7 point lead into the half. The Cougars would be anxious to get back rolling.
Tre Lawing powers through in search of the goal line.
Having stopped Appomattox offense earlier in the 3rd, Draft would have another great drive. This time the passing game would be big on key downs and then Henry Cooke would go in from 1 yard out to tie the game once again with 3:49 left in the 3rd quarter. Just like that the Cougar vibe was electric as they were in the thick of it. That feeling would be short lived.
Appomattox Gray Peterson would get a huge kick return down to the Cougar 21 yard line. From there, Lawing would cap off the drive with a 2 yard run to give Appomattox a 21-14 lead with 2:33 to go. The next possession the Cougars would stall out but what made things worse was their punt would go off the side of the punter's foot for no gain on the punt. Appomattox would answer quickly and Lawing would find Peterson for a 7 yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14 Raiders with 1:00 left in the 3rd.
The Raiders could feel the championship but Stuarts Draft was determined not to fold. Freddie Watkins would catch a 5 yard touchdown pass from Cooke bringing new life to the Cougars. 28-21 with 9:26. The Cougars were looking for a defensive stand but somehow allowed Lawing to get free on the option keeper. This would be the dagger.
Blake Roach had little choices on his run as the Raiders closed in.
Lawing would race all the way for an 80 yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 35-21 lead as they answered the Cougar score in 12 seconds. From that point the Cougars could not connect on several deep passes and Ferguson would close things out with a 14 yard run as the Cougar faithful began to file out of the stadium.
Appomattox (13-2) gets their 4 title in 5 years. Coach Doug Smith was able to rebound the squad from a 1-2 start and finish with another title. Stuarts Draft (13-2) had a great season and will look to next season to flip the script.
APPOMATTOX 7 7 14 14 - 42
STAURTS DRAFT 7 0 7 7 - 21
A- Ferguson 46 yard run (Bianco kick)
SD- Nice 1 yard run (Lingenfelter kick)
A- Lawing 2 yard run (Bianco kick)
SD- Cooke 1 yard run (Lingenfelter kick)
A- Lawing 2 yard run (Bianco kick)
A- Peterson 7 yard pass from Lawing (Bianco kick)
SD- Watkins 5 yard pass from Cooke (Lingenfelter kick)
A- Lawing 80 yard run (Bianco kick)
A- Ferguson 14 yard run (Bianco kick)
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