Abingdon Falcons Survive in Overtime against Blacksburg Bruins
Everyone knows that Blacksburg is famous for Virginia Tech football. The high school version of Beamer ball was played at Falcon Stadium in Abingdon. The Falcons held off the Bruins special teams plays to win 28-27 in overtime when the Bruins two-point conversion was stopped in the backfield.
Abingdon 28, Blacksburg 27, OT
Blacksburg 0 14 7 0 6-27
Abingdon 0 14 0 7 7-28
Scoring Summary
A-D.Yates 7 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
A-Sturgill 21 run (Dick kick)
B-G.Driscoll 37 run with blocked punt (Shelor kick)
B-R.Coffey 7 pass from I.Johnston (Shelor kick)
B-Beck 4 run (Shelor kick)
A-D.Yates 38 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
A-D.Yates 3 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
B-R.Coffey 8 pass from I.Johnston (run failed)
Team Stats
First Downs: B 13, A 18; Rushes-Yards: B 44-121, A 27-84; Passing Yards: B 168, A 359; Passes (C-A-I): B 18-35-2, A 33-56-1; Fumbles-Lost: B 0-0, A 3-3; Penalties: B 12-85, A 8-69; Punts: B 6-39.6, A 6-30.5.
The Bruins took a tied game at halftime and opened up a 21-14 lead following Blacksburg’s Morgan McCoy took the second half kick off 90 yards to the Abingdon three-yard line setting up a four-yard scamper by Coleton Beck to put the Bruins up on top. The game became a defensive game as both sides traded punts until late in the fourth quarter. Abingdon 3:34 remaining in the game, Abingdon’s Sturgill hit Yates for a 38-yard catch and run to tie the game.
The Falcons defense held the Bruins to a three and out, giving the Falcons a chance in regulation to win the game. A dropped pass on fourth down with 43 seconds remaining sent the game into overtime.
The Bruins won the overtime coin toss and elected to have the ball second. The Falcons took all of the downs to get a three-yard touchdown on fourth and goal by Yates standing just inside the goal line to put Abingdon on top for the first time since the second quarter. Abingdon sophomore kicker James Dick put Abingdon up 28-21. The Bruins took their turn in overtime knowing that they had to have a touchdown to have a chance to win the game. The touchdown came on their third down with an 8 yard pass from Isaac Johnston to Robert Coffey to bring the Bruins to within one. The Bruins coach chose to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt that came up with a loss when Justin Fannon, senior defensive lineman, sacked Johnston on the five-yard line ending the game.
It was big special teams plays that kept the Bruins in the game. The Bruins picked up a 37 yard blocked punt return in the second quarter. It was followed by a perfectly executed on-side kick that lead to Coffey’s first touchdown of the night, a 7 yard pass in the second quarter to tie the game.
Keys to Victory
The key for victory for the Falcons was the persistence of the receivers to get open. A night of dropped balls and turnovers hampered the Falcons, but big catches by the Falcons receivers made for the win.
Players of the Game
1. Derrick Yates
2. Jake Sturgill
3. James Dick
Derrick Yates
The Abingdon Falcon senior caught three touchdown passes of 7, 38, and 3 yards. Two touchdowns were key catches for the Falcons. The 38-yard catch and run tied the game in the fourth quarter and the 3 yard catch in overtime for the win. Yates finished with 15 receptions for 197 yards receiving.
Jake Sturgill
The junior quarterback, Jake Sturgill, was plagued by dropped passes and turnovers through the night but still turned in big numbers for the Falcons. Sturgill was 33 of 56 passing attempts with three passing touchdowns and a 21 yard rushing touchdown for 359 yards passing.
James Dick
Sophomore kicker was 4 for 4 on extra points and when the pressure mounted in overtime was dead perfect to seal the win for the Falcons.
Everyone knows that Blacksburg is famous for Virginia Tech football. The high school version of Beamer ball was played at Falcon Stadium in Abingdon. The Falcons held off the Bruins special teams plays to win 28-27 in overtime when the Bruins two-point conversion was stopped in the backfield.
Abingdon 28, Blacksburg 27, OT
Blacksburg 0 14 7 0 6-27
Abingdon 0 14 0 7 7-28
Scoring Summary
A-D.Yates 7 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
A-Sturgill 21 run (Dick kick)
B-G.Driscoll 37 run with blocked punt (Shelor kick)
B-R.Coffey 7 pass from I.Johnston (Shelor kick)
B-Beck 4 run (Shelor kick)
A-D.Yates 38 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
A-D.Yates 3 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
B-R.Coffey 8 pass from I.Johnston (run failed)
Team Stats
First Downs: B 13, A 18; Rushes-Yards: B 44-121, A 27-84; Passing Yards: B 168, A 359; Passes (C-A-I): B 18-35-2, A 33-56-1; Fumbles-Lost: B 0-0, A 3-3; Penalties: B 12-85, A 8-69; Punts: B 6-39.6, A 6-30.5.
The Bruins took a tied game at halftime and opened up a 21-14 lead following Blacksburg’s Morgan McCoy took the second half kick off 90 yards to the Abingdon three-yard line setting up a four-yard scamper by Coleton Beck to put the Bruins up on top. The game became a defensive game as both sides traded punts until late in the fourth quarter. Abingdon 3:34 remaining in the game, Abingdon’s Sturgill hit Yates for a 38-yard catch and run to tie the game.
The Falcons defense held the Bruins to a three and out, giving the Falcons a chance in regulation to win the game. A dropped pass on fourth down with 43 seconds remaining sent the game into overtime.
The Bruins won the overtime coin toss and elected to have the ball second. The Falcons took all of the downs to get a three-yard touchdown on fourth and goal by Yates standing just inside the goal line to put Abingdon on top for the first time since the second quarter. Abingdon sophomore kicker James Dick put Abingdon up 28-21. The Bruins took their turn in overtime knowing that they had to have a touchdown to have a chance to win the game. The touchdown came on their third down with an 8 yard pass from Isaac Johnston to Robert Coffey to bring the Bruins to within one. The Bruins coach chose to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt that came up with a loss when Justin Fannon, senior defensive lineman, sacked Johnston on the five-yard line ending the game.
It was big special teams plays that kept the Bruins in the game. The Bruins picked up a 37 yard blocked punt return in the second quarter. It was followed by a perfectly executed on-side kick that lead to Coffey’s first touchdown of the night, a 7 yard pass in the second quarter to tie the game.
Keys to Victory
The key for victory for the Falcons was the persistence of the receivers to get open. A night of dropped balls and turnovers hampered the Falcons, but big catches by the Falcons receivers made for the win.
Players of the Game
1. Derrick Yates
2. Jake Sturgill
3. James Dick
Derrick Yates
The Abingdon Falcon senior caught three touchdown passes of 7, 38, and 3 yards. Two touchdowns were key catches for the Falcons. The 38-yard catch and run tied the game in the fourth quarter and the 3 yard catch in overtime for the win. Yates finished with 15 receptions for 197 yards receiving.
Jake Sturgill
The junior quarterback, Jake Sturgill, was plagued by dropped passes and turnovers through the night but still turned in big numbers for the Falcons. Sturgill was 33 of 56 passing attempts with three passing touchdowns and a 21 yard rushing touchdown for 359 yards passing.
James Dick
Sophomore kicker was 4 for 4 on extra points and when the pressure mounted in overtime was dead perfect to seal the win for the Falcons.
