When the Lord Botetourt football team defeated Staunton River, 28-21, in Daleville last Friday, it clinched a winning season for the Cavaliers at 6-1. While a winning record isn’t the ultimate goal for LB this season, it was somewhat significant as it marked the 14th straight season the team has had a winning record.
This is the 14th season Jamie Harless has been head coach at Lord Botetourt, all winning seasons, and in the previous 40 years the team had a total of 13 winning seasons. The longest previous streak of winning seasons was three, from 1960 to ’62 under inaugural coach John David and from 1998 to 2000 under Tony Hart.
Botetourt is hoping to use that momentum this Friday when the Cavaliers travel to Vinton to play William Byrd in a huge Blue Ridge District game. The Terriers have won three of the past four meetings, including last year’s region thriller that Byrd won 46-44 in two overtimes.
This has always been a good rivalry. Byrd owns a 40-25-1 all-time edge but LB has won seven of the past 10 meetings. There’s always a big crowd for this game and Byrd has shown a strong passing attack with coach Brad Lutz’ son, Cannin, at quarterback.
“We can’t give up the deep balls, that’s been our Achilles heel,” said Harless.
Byrd is coming off a 55-6 beat down by William Fleming last week. That the Colonels won wasn’t a shocker but few expected that kind of score. The loss dropped Byrd to 5-2 on the season and allowed Northside to pass the Terriers in the VHSL Region 3D football rankings. Magna Vista is currently first, LB is second and Northside and Byrd follow. Obviously, Friday’s game will be a big one for points and Botetourt finishes up with Fleming and Northside.
“If we can win out we should pass Magna Vista for the number one seed,” said Harless.
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
Botetourt is 6-1 after holding on to beat Staunton River. The Cavaliers had a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter thanks to a 17-yard run by Angel Rigney, a 90-yard TD run by Quentin Jones and a 12-yard TD pass from Rigney to Jones. Two fumbles, one on offense and one on a kickoff return, turned the momentum to the Eagles as they cut the lead to 20-14 by halftime.
LB upped the lead to 28-14 in the third quarter as Jones ran for a 17-yard score and a two-point conversion. River cut the lead to 28-21 in the fourth quarter but the Cavs were able to kill out the clock on their ensuing possession and pick up the district win.
Once again LB had two players with over 100 yards rushing as Rigney had 182 on 27 carries and Jones had 171 on 11. Rigney completed six of nine passes for 50 yards, including five to Jones for 46 stripes.
The LB jayvee team also won last week, remaining undefeated with a 30-6 win over Staunton River. The jayvees will host Byrd on Thursday at 6 p.m.
