Alleghany holds off Carroll County to remain undefeated

HILLSVILLE – After only six points total were scored in the first half, Alleghany put up 21 second half points to remain unbeaten as they defeated Carroll County last Friday night following a 27-8 victory in a Pioneer District football game in Hillsville at Tommy Thompson Field.

 

Coming off of their bye week and a win the week before over the defending Class 2 State Champion Radford Bobcats, Alleghany’s tough part of their district schedule continued with their game against Carroll County.

 

The Cavaliers gave the Cougars everything they had as they held AHS to a season-low six first half points before the Cougars 21-point second half showing. The Cavs defense also gave it their best shot in containing dual-threat athlete Des Jordan as they forced the junior quarterback to throw his first two interceptions of the season.

 

Nonetheless it was all for nought as Alleghany despite their first half shortcomings rolled in the second half to their sixth win of the season. 

 

Despite his two interceptions, Jordan was spectacular once again in the passing-attack as threw for 207-yds and had a pair of touchdowns to senior Xzavier Hayslett and junior Sarge Persinger.

 

Carter Nicely continued to be a problem in the backfield. The junior rushed for 88-yds and added a pair of touchdown runs, including a 30-yd rushing score in the fourth quarter that iced the game with a little over four minutes remaining as Alleghany had built a 27-8 lead.

 

Alleghany grabbed their first points of the game past the midway mark of the first quarter. Jordan had connected with Hayslett for 77-yds which set up a 1-yd rushing score from Nicely. A missed extra point kept the Cougars in front 6-0.

 

That would be all the scoring in the first half. 

 

In the third quarter, Alleghany marched down the field on their first possession of the second half as Jordan tossed the first of his two scores as he found an open Hayslett from 19-yds out as the Cougars got back on the scoreboard. AHS opted to go for the two-point conversion which turned out in their favor as junior backup quarterback Brycen Griffith connected with senior Gavin Via to give the Cougars a two-touchdown advantage at 14-0.

 

Looking for more in the third quarter, Alleghany would tack on six more points as with just over two minutes left in the period, Jordan tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, this time connecting with Persinger from 14-yds. The extra point was no good and the Cougars lead remained at 20-0.

 

Carroll County, who struggled to get anything going offensively throughout the game finally got something going to open the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers got themselves on the scoreboard. 

 

In what was their longest play of the game as senior Bryce Smoot found a wide-open Isaiah Easter from 48-yds out. Following an Alleghany penalty that moved the Cavs up closer to the 1-yard line, Smoot took a direct snap and lunged his way through his offensive line and into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion as the Cavs now trailed 20-8.

 

The score by Carroll County however was too little too late. 

 

Just minutes later Nicely finished off Carroll County with his second rushing touchdown of the game, this time of 30-yds as Alleghany took a commanding 27-8 following a made extra point from sophomore Mason Hale.

 

Hayslett led all receivers with a game-high 127-yds receiving on four catches. Junior Jay Godrey added an interception for the defense.

 

Now we are set for what could be the determining game for who wins the district championship with undefeated Alleghany (6-0, 2-0 TRD) hosting the unbeaten Glenvar (6-0, 2-0) this Friday evening at Casey Field in Covington. The Highlanders defeated Patrick County on Friday 49-7 in Salem.