The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Cougars used a fourth-quarter surge to pull out a 22-21 home victory over Staunton on Friday night, erasing a two-score deficit to improve their record in dramatic fashion.
The Cougars struck first when Carter Nicely capped an opening-quarter drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Ethan Phillips’ extra point made it 7-0 with 1:04 left in the first.
Staunton tied the game midway through the second quarter as Zyleke Shepherd returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown. Luc Geffrard’s kick pulled the visitors even at 7-7.
Alleghany answered quickly. With 3:21 before halftime, quarterback Des Jordan connected with Sarge Persinger on a 51-yard strike down the sideline, giving the Cougars a 14-7 advantage at the break.
Momentum shifted in the third. The Storm leaned on their ground game, as Taiden Combs punched in a 6-yard run at to even the score. Just three minutes later, Leon Woodard finished a drive with a 1-yard plunge, and Staunton surged ahead 21-14 entering the final quarter.
Jordan, who battled through two interceptions on the night, delivered when Alleghany needed it most. He scored on a 3-yard keeper with 6:44 left, then found Colten Jack on a two-point conversion pass to edge ahead 22-21. The Cougar defense held from there, shutting out Staunton in the final frame.
Jordan finished with 204 yards passing on 14-of-22 attempts, adding one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. He also led the Cougars in rushing with 32 yards on 16 carries. Brady May provided balance with 30 yards on six attempts, while also catching four passes.
Persinger led the receiving corps with 59 yards on three grabs, highlighted by his long touchdown. Jay Godfrey added three catches for 52 yards, Jack chipped in a 39-yard reception, and Kenton Kirby pulled in a 20-yard gain.
The one-point win marked a gutsy comeback for the Cougars, who outscored Staunton 8-0 in the fourth quarter to seal the game.
Next up, No. 3 Alleghany will travel to face No. 7 Waynesboro on Friday night. The Little Giants enter off a win over Rockbridge, setting up another key matchup in the early season standings.
