The Northside football team gave their playoff chances a boost with an upset of Lord Botetourt in football last Friday. The Vikings shut out LB, 17-0, on Jim Hickam Field at Northside High.
It was Northside’s first win over Botetourt in eight years, and only the second in the past 12 years. With the win the Vikings improved to 5-4 and moved up to fifth in the VHSL Region 3D rankings. LB fell to third behind Abingdon and Magna Vista after leading the region two weeks ago before losses to William Fleming and Northside. Botetourt is now 6-3.
“We played like we were stuck in the mud,” said LB coach Jamie Harless. “Give Northside credit, they have a good team. They’re better than their record shows.”
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
Despite the shutout, Tristan Overbay still managed to rush for over 100 yards, gaining 105 on 18 carries. Quinten Jones had 25 yards rushing and Angel Rigney had 23, both on six attempts. Rigney and Garrett Lonker were a combined four for 14 passing, including a 29 yard completion to Connor Dowdy.
“We had eight or nine plays where we were a shoestring away from breaking it,” said Harless. “Nothing seemed to go our way. We had a bad game, it just happens sometimes.”
The Cavaliers will try to end the regular season on a high note this Friday when they host Franklin County. The Eagles are better than their 2-7 record would indicate. They led Salem at the half and battled 7-2 William Byrd late into the game before losing in the final minute.
“They have talent all over the field,” said Harless.
