The Shadow
BUENA VISTA, Va (VR)- The Bath County Chargers saw their hopes of getting a needed win slip away Friday night as the Parry McCluer Fighting Blues capitalized on key second-half drives to claim a 28-12 Pioneer District win under the lights at Parry McClure High School.
The contest, held before a lively Halloween crowd, opened as a classic defensive battle, with both teams trading possessions and field position for much of the first quarter. Parry McCluer drew first blood midway through the first, as senior running back Jacob Shafer found paydirt on a 1-yard goal line plunge. The extra point was converted, giving the Blues a 7-0 advantage.
Bath County responded with determination. Quarterback Hunter Kirby orchestrated a sustained drive to begin the second quarter, mixing power runs and short passes, before connecting with Jake Boguess on an 11-yard touchdown strike. However, a missed extra point left the Chargers trailing 7-6.
The Chargers’ defense stood firm late in the first half, forcing a turnover on downs to keep the Blues from building on their lead. However, miscues began to creep in on both sides of the ball, with flags for delay of game and personal fouls stalling promising drives for Bath County. The Blues mounted a last-minute push before halftime but were held out of the end zone, sending both squads to the locker room with Parry McCluer clinging to a slim 7-6 lead.
At halftime, the crowd was treated to performances by the Parry McCluer Marching Blues and a raffle offering prizes ranging from gift cards to a smart TV, with community sponsors lauded for their support.
The momentum swung wildly in the third quarter. Bath County started strong, as Kirby ripped off a 20-yard run to set up a first down in Parry McCluer territory. A face mask penalty pushed the Chargers closer to the red zone, but consecutive sacks and an incomplete fourth-down pass ended the threat.
Parry McCluer then shifted gears, pounding out a clock consuming drive powered by Shafer and Parker Snyder. Despite a flurry of holding and illegal shift penalties pushing the Blues back, a crucial personal foul by Bath County gave the home team new life. Moments later, quarterback Nathan Glass connected with Snyder on a timely completion, followed by Glass’s own 5-yard touchdown run to push the Blues’ lead to 14-6 after the successful extra point.
Bath County’s answer was swift and dramatic. On the ensuing drive, Owen Perdue broke free for a stunning 50-plus yard sprint to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 14-12. The Chargers’ two-point conversion attempt, which would have tied the game, fell incomplete, leaving Parry McCluer with a narrow lead as the third quarter wound down.
With their season and senior night on the line, the Blues responded with a punishing ground attack in the fourth quarter. Shafer and Snyder churned out tough yards behind a determined offensive line, methodically draining the clock. Facing fourth-and-12 deep in Charger territory, the Blues executed a backbreaking run by Nathan Glass down to the 7-yard line. Two plays later, Shafer barreled in for his second touchdown of the night, extending the margin to 21-12 with just over nine minutes to play.
The Chargers, fighting both the scoreboard and time, attempted a final push, but Parry McClure’s defense turned up the pressure, sacking Kirby for a loss and forcing a series of incompletions and punts. The Blues recovered a fumble in the closing minutes and aided by late penalties, capped the drive with another touchdown for the 28-12 final margin.
After the game, Parry McCluer honored its senior football players and cheerleaders for their contributions to the program, celebrating both a hard-fought win and the close-knit support of their Buena Vista community.
With the victory, Parry McCluer remains in the Pioneer District hunt, while Bath County will look to correct mistakes and prepare to take on a talented Narrows team next week as the regular season nears its conclusion.
