Rural Retreat Comes Up Short Against George Wythe 29-28
The last week of regular season football in Southwest Virginia was full of excitement in the fourth quarter as George Wythe Maroons (9-1) held on to win the Hogoheegee District Championship game 29-28 over the Indians of Rural Retreat (7-3).
GAME STATISTICS:
George Wythe 29, Rural Retreat 28
Rural Retreat 0 0 8 20-28
George Wythe 21 0 0 8-29
Scoring Summary
GW-Harber 75 kickoff return (Russell kick)
GW-Wells 1 run (Russell kick)
GW-Beamer 1 run (Russell kick)
RR-Cox 33 pass from Sowers (Copenhaver kick)
RR-Ward 3 run (Richardson run)
RR-Sowers 12 run (Copenhaver kick)
GW-Moss 77 kickoff return (Nowers pass from Beamer)
RR-Richardson 5 run (run failed)
Team Stats
First Downs: RR 17, GW 12; Rushes-Yards: RR 40-145, GW 32-126; Passing Yards: RR 145, GW 116; Comp.-Att.-Int: RR 8-16-2, GW 9-13-1; Fumbles-Lost: RR 1-1, GW 2-1; Penalties-Yards: RR 1-5, GW 4-45; Punts-Average: RR 2-37, GW 3-41.
George Wythe opened up an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter that silenced the fans from Rural Retreat that made the short trip to Wytheville. The Maroons seem to have everything under control during the first half the game. The scoring started early with Jordan Harber returned the opening kickoff 75-yards for the first score of the night. After holding the Indians, the Maroons took over on their own 34-yard line and marched 66-yards in 13 plays for the second score for George Wythe. Sophomore quarterback Deacon Beamer then capped the first half scoring on a one-yard plunge to go up 21-0 in the first quarter following a Rural Retreat fumble on the 40-yard line.
The second half, the Maroons faced a different team. The Indians stepped up the defense and controlled the game in the second half. Rural Retreat quarterback Wyatt Sowers began the rally when he hit senior tight-end Tanner Cox with a 33-yard scoring strike with 3:30 left in the third-quarter.
The Indians held tight on defense and made a key stop, giving them the ball back early in the fourth quarter and running back Hunter Ward scored on a 3-yard plunge and the PAT brought the Indians to within six points at 21-15. The Indian faithful were in full force when Wyatt Sowers broke free for a 12-yard run with 5:17 left in the game to put the Indians up 22-21.
The Indians fans were silenced seconds later when junior returner Markell Moss broke free on the kick-off for a 77-yard score. Quarterback Deacon Beamer hit sophomore Walker Nowers with what would be the game winning two-point conversion.
The Indians were not finished. Rural Retreat took the kickoff and marched down the field until senior Jared Richardson reached the end zone on a five-yard run with 1:56 remaining in the game. The Indians chose to go for the win with a two-point conversion It appeared that Sowers had a lane and an easy score, but Maroons linebacker Tyler Hardin tripped up Sowers short of the goal-line sealing the win for George Wythe.
Both teams are headed to the playoffs and the atmosphere in Wytheville can be compared to the state championship game as the fans of both schools got their monies worth. Maroons quarterback Deacon Beamer passed for 116 yards. Rural Retreat got 70 yards rushing from quarterback Wyatt Sowers while adding 145 yards passing.
The last week of regular season football in Southwest Virginia was full of excitement in the fourth quarter as George Wythe Maroons (9-1) held on to win the Hogoheegee District Championship game 29-28 over the Indians of Rural Retreat (7-3).
GAME STATISTICS:
George Wythe 29, Rural Retreat 28
Rural Retreat 0 0 8 20-28
George Wythe 21 0 0 8-29
Scoring Summary
GW-Harber 75 kickoff return (Russell kick)
GW-Wells 1 run (Russell kick)
GW-Beamer 1 run (Russell kick)
RR-Cox 33 pass from Sowers (Copenhaver kick)
RR-Ward 3 run (Richardson run)
RR-Sowers 12 run (Copenhaver kick)
GW-Moss 77 kickoff return (Nowers pass from Beamer)
RR-Richardson 5 run (run failed)
Team Stats
First Downs: RR 17, GW 12; Rushes-Yards: RR 40-145, GW 32-126; Passing Yards: RR 145, GW 116; Comp.-Att.-Int: RR 8-16-2, GW 9-13-1; Fumbles-Lost: RR 1-1, GW 2-1; Penalties-Yards: RR 1-5, GW 4-45; Punts-Average: RR 2-37, GW 3-41.
George Wythe opened up an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter that silenced the fans from Rural Retreat that made the short trip to Wytheville. The Maroons seem to have everything under control during the first half the game. The scoring started early with Jordan Harber returned the opening kickoff 75-yards for the first score of the night. After holding the Indians, the Maroons took over on their own 34-yard line and marched 66-yards in 13 plays for the second score for George Wythe. Sophomore quarterback Deacon Beamer then capped the first half scoring on a one-yard plunge to go up 21-0 in the first quarter following a Rural Retreat fumble on the 40-yard line.
The second half, the Maroons faced a different team. The Indians stepped up the defense and controlled the game in the second half. Rural Retreat quarterback Wyatt Sowers began the rally when he hit senior tight-end Tanner Cox with a 33-yard scoring strike with 3:30 left in the third-quarter.
The Indians held tight on defense and made a key stop, giving them the ball back early in the fourth quarter and running back Hunter Ward scored on a 3-yard plunge and the PAT brought the Indians to within six points at 21-15. The Indian faithful were in full force when Wyatt Sowers broke free for a 12-yard run with 5:17 left in the game to put the Indians up 22-21.
The Indians fans were silenced seconds later when junior returner Markell Moss broke free on the kick-off for a 77-yard score. Quarterback Deacon Beamer hit sophomore Walker Nowers with what would be the game winning two-point conversion.
The Indians were not finished. Rural Retreat took the kickoff and marched down the field until senior Jared Richardson reached the end zone on a five-yard run with 1:56 remaining in the game. The Indians chose to go for the win with a two-point conversion It appeared that Sowers had a lane and an easy score, but Maroons linebacker Tyler Hardin tripped up Sowers short of the goal-line sealing the win for George Wythe.
Both teams are headed to the playoffs and the atmosphere in Wytheville can be compared to the state championship game as the fans of both schools got their monies worth. Maroons quarterback Deacon Beamer passed for 116 yards. Rural Retreat got 70 yards rushing from quarterback Wyatt Sowers while adding 145 yards passing.
