The Shadow
ON THE RUN — Alleghany quarterback Matt Patterson (7) scampers for yardage against William Byrd Friday night at Mountaineer Field. (Lesley Nickell Photo)
ON THE RUN — Alleghany quarterback Matt Patterson (7) scampers for yardage against William Byrd Friday night at Mountaineer Field. (Lesley Nickell Photo)
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With apologizes to Bobby “Boris” Pickett, the William Byrd Terriers held a “Monster Bash” at Mountaineer Field Friday evening.
It was a graveyard smash!
Freshman Larry Basham rushed for 129 yards and scored all five touchdowns, propelling the Terriers to a haunting 35-8 Halloween night win over the Alleghany Mountaineers.
The loss all but ended any playoff hopes for the Mountainers, who dropped to 3-6 on the season and suffered their fourth straight loss.
The Mountaineers held the statistical edge on the night. They ran 30 more plays from scrimmage than the Terriers and outgained them in total yardage 282-245, but Basham was the difference.
The Mountaineers took the opening kickoff and marched to the Byrd 26 in 10 plays, but the drive stalled after a couple of negative plays.
Enter Basham. After a couple of big pass plays — a 49 yard hookup between quarterback William Culicerto and Bryson Plunkett and a 22-yarder from Culicerto to Basham — the Terriers had a 1st-and-goal at the Alleghany 8.
After a half-the-distance to the goal penalty, Basham scored from four yards out, giving the Terriers a 7-0 lead.
“We moved the ball down the field for three or four first downs, but we got off schedule,” Alleghany coach Gary Burdette said. “One play we missed the handoff, and the ball laid on the ground. Little things that get us off schedule can have a big impact on a team that needs to stay on track.”
A William Byrd drive into Alleghany territory early in the second quarter was thwarted by a Tyler Broughman interception in the end zone, but after a 3-and-out, Basham went back to work, returning a punt 61 yards for a touchdown that gave Byrd a 14-0 lead.
In a span of less than six minutes late in the second quarter, the Terriers upped their lead to 28-0.
Basham’s 32-yard house call increased the Byrd lead to 21-0, and just a little over a minute later, he was back in the end zone, giving the Terriers a 28-0 halftime lead.
The Terrier advantage swelled to 35-0 on Basham’s fifth and final touchdown of the evening, a 10-yard gallop late in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers finally got on the board in the fourth quarter.
Christian Carter capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown. Matt Patterson then fired to Derek Tremblay for the two-point conversion, accounting for the 35-8 final.
Carter finished with another 100-yard performance. He carried 29 times for 115 yards, giving him 995 yards rushing on the season to go along with 13 touchdowns.
The Mountaineers also held a 240-146 advantage on the ground.
In addition to the Broughman pick, Zach Rusmisel had a sack, while the tandem of Raekwon Kinnard and Jonathan Church teamed up for another sack by the Mountaineer defense.
Alleghany concludes the season next week with a trip to 1-8 Staunton River, who dropped a 35-27 decision to Lord Botetourt Friday night.
Burdette is looking to end the season on a high note.
“The challenge is out there,” he said. “I don’t want just another week of practice to get through it. We want a week of practice to try to win.”
