The Shadow
AUGUST COUNTY, Va. (VR) – Alleghany struggled to contain Fort Defiance’s running game Friday night as the Cougars fell 31-22 in Shenandoah District football action.
Fort Defiance established its ground game early, rushing for 376 yards while holding Alleghany scoreless in the opening quarter.
Jimmy Pruiksma put the Indians on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Isaac Burgess added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Pruiksma struck again in the second quarter, breaking loose for a 40-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-0.
Fort Defiance added another score with 43 seconds remaining in the half when Carter Berry found the end zone from four yards out.
Trailing 21-0, Alleghany finally answered on the final play of the half when quarterback Talyn Elliott connected with Kenton Kirby on an 11-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Cougars trailing 21-6 at halftime.
Alleghany’s defense kept Fort Defiance off the scoreboard in the third quarter, while Mason Hale connected on a 42-yard field goal with 5:35 remaining to cut the deficit to 21-9.
Fort Defiance regained control early in the fourth quarter when Pruiksma broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 28-9.
The Cougars continued to work.
Elliott scored on a 6-yard run with 7:04 remaining, trimming the deficit to 28-15 after another failed conversion attempt.
Just over a minute later, Elijah “Buddy” Leisure-White broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run. Hale added the extra point, pulling Alleghany within six points at 28-22 with 5:34 remaining.
Fort Defiance answered with a 22-yard field goal from Burgess with 1:54 left, extending the lead to 31-22 and putting the game out of reach.
Alleghany finished with 279 yards of total offense, including 159 rushing and 120 passing. Elliott and the Cougars completed 9 of 17 passes.
Fort Defiance relied almost entirely on its ground attack, rushing 48 times for 376 yards. The Indians attempted just one pass and finished with 19 first downs compared to Alleghany’s 12.
Penalties continue to be an issue for Alleghany. The Cougars were flagged seven times for 75 yards and committed two turnovers. Fort Defiance was penalized just three times for 30 yards.
Alleghany must continue working to eliminate costly penalties. Giving away 75 yards in a district matchup is something the Cougars cannot afford, especially when trying to overcome an early deficit.
