The Shadow
STUART – Ever heard of the Broadway musical “Rent”?
If so then you know how the lyrics go in the song Seasons of Love – “525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?”
Well, the Alleghany football recap from their game against Patrick County plays the tune to the Broadway musical Rent.
For only 13 minutes and 18 seconds the Cougars have trailed this season.
Which means in their other 370 minutes and 42 seconds, AHS has either been in a tied game or led.
In reality the Cougars have led for nearly 370 minutes with very little tie scores this season with the exception of 0-0.
So, much like the Broadway musical, we turn it into an Alleghany football remix – 370 minutes and 42 seconds, the Cougars have roared. For only 13 minutes and 18 seconds, that’s how little others have come.”
That might not be my best effort at trying to replicate a remix of a Broadway musical, but also a reason to keep my day job.
On Friday, the other Cougars team, Patrick County, gave it their best shot, but the undefeated Alleghany showed why they are the top team of the Three Rivers District and overcame first quarter struggles to dominate the PC Cougars 47-10 in a district showdown in Stuart.
A little more than halfway into the first quarter Patrick County struck first on the scoreboard following a 22-yd rushing score from Easton Harris.
The scoring drive for the PC Cougars occurred after Alleghany failed a fourth down attempt which resulted in a turnover on downs at midfield after the AHS Cougars lost 6-yds on the fourth-down play.
All the momentum was on Patrick County’s side. The PC Cougars would keep that momentum going when for a second straight drive their defense forced a turnover on downs after Alleghany failed a second time on fourth down, this time on their own side of the field at the 46-yard line.
No team this season, not Radford, Glenvar, or Carroll County, had rattled Alleghany like this.
The only problem was there was A LOT of football left to go.
While Patrick County won the first quarter, all of their momentum would last for mere minutes in the second.
With a chance to take a double-digit lead following Alleghany’s second failed fourth down attempt, Patrick County could not use the momentum in their favor and only could mustar 3-yards on their next drive which resulted in a turnover on downs after failing a fourth down attempt at their own 43-yard line.
Credit Patrick County for trying in that situation as they could have put Alleghany in a territory, they haven’t been all season, down double digits. However, failing a fourth down attempt at near midfield is asking for trouble against the district’s highest scoring team with not far to go for the end zone.
The AHS Cougars would make the PC Cougars pay for their failed fourth down attempt. On their third offensive drive of the game AHS would find the end zone for the first time following an eight-play drive that resulted in a 10-yd rushing score from Des Jordan. A missed extra point kept the PC Cougars in front 7-6.
Remember we talked about not giving Alleghany any breathing room. AHS would catch Patrick County off guard on the ensuing kickoff as AHS snuck an onside kick in which was recovered by Sarge Persinger.
Now Alleghany had all the momentum.
Eight seconds later and only needing one play on their next drive on offense, Jordan connected with Hunter Knighton for a 46-yd score. AJ Godfrey would convert the 2pt conversion to put the AHS Cougars ahead 14-7.
Patrick County had their chance and could not capitalize on their momentum.
Before the end of the first half, Alleghany would add more points to the scoreboard and further increased their lead to 21-7 after Xzavier Hayslett reeled in one of his two receiving touchdowns, this one from 11-yds.
All season long as Alleghany has built a double-digit lead in all eight games (all wins), they have never let a team cut the game to single digits.
The AHS Cougars would increase their already sizable lead with 13 more points in the third quarter coming on touchdown passes to Nick Frye and Jay Godfrey.
With a comfortable 34-7 lead going into the game’s final quarter, Alleghany would increase their comfortability by adding 13 more points in the quarter on Hayslett’s second touchdown receptions and a 24-yd rushing score from Buddy Leisure-White.
As the game wound down in the fourth quarter Patrick County would tack on three more points as Erik Martinez-Tejeda would knock down a 36-yard field goal as the game clock expired.
Hayslett finished the game with game-highs in catches (nine) and receiving yards (111), along with two touchdown receptions. Meanwhile, Knighton reeled in four catches for 106-yds and a touchdown reception.
Jordan once again had a tremendous game for the AHS Cougars as he threw for 275-yards on 17 of his 20 passes and also had four total touchdowns.
Carter Nicely led AHS with 80-yds rushing on 17 attempts.
Alleghany is now two wins away from an undefeated regular season. They host James River (Buchanan) this Friday night at Casey Field on senior night.
Alleghany 0 21 13 13 – 47
Patrick County 7 0 0 3 – 10
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PC – Harris 22 run (Martinez-Tejeda kick), 4:26
Second Quarter
AHS – Jordan 10 run (PAT no good), 8:32
AHS – Knighton 46 pass from Jordan (2pt Godfrey run), 8:24
AHS – Hayslett 11 pass from Jordan (Hale kick), 0:19
Third Quarter
AHS – Frye 15 pass from Jordan (PAT no good), 8:09
AHS – Godfrey 20 pass from Jordan (Hale kick), 1:02
Fourth Quarter
AHS – Hayslett 20 pass from Jordan (Hale kick), 8:03
AHS – Leisure-White 24 run (PAT no good), 2:38
PC – Martinez-Tejeda 36yd field goal, 0:00
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – AHS: Nicely 17-80, Via 3-32, Leisure-White 2-24, Jordan 4-16, Griffith 1-3, Knighton 2-1. PASSING – AHS: Jordan 17-20-275. RECEIVING – AHS: Hayslett 9-111, Knighton 4-106, Godfrey 2-24, Frye 1-15, Persinger 1-15.
