The James River football season came to an end last Friday with an exciting game against visiting Parry McCluer. The Blues pulled out a win in Springwood, 27-14, in what turned out to be River’s last game of the abbreviated spring season.
The Knights did not make the Region 2C playoffs with a 1-5 record, but were eligible to play in a “plus one” game against another team that did not finish among their region’s final four. River coach Tim Jennings had Giles lined up for the “plus one” game but it had to be cancelled as a number of James River players opted out due to spring break vacation plans.
“I was looking forward to one more game, but spring break was an issue for our kids,” said Jennings. “I don’t know what they’d have done if we had made the playoffs. I feel bad for Giles, I hope they could get another game on short notice.”
River didn’t win last Friday but the Knights were in the game right up until the end against a solid Parry McCluer team. The Blues finished third in Region 1C with a 4-2 record and made the playoffs, heading to second seeded Narrows this weekend in what should be a good one. The Green Wave is 6-0 and is unscored upon this year but still only ranked second to Galax, who is also 6-0. River finished 11th in Region 2C while top seeded Appomattox, Dan River, Glenvar and Radford made the playoffs.
The Knights went out with one of their best games of the season last Friday night. They trailed by just a touchdown in the fourth quarter before a late 47-yard run by Parry McCluer’s Ty Ruley put it away.
After the Blues struck first the Knights tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter as River quarterback Zeal Hammons, a freshman, caught a 12-yard TD pass from Kahlique White off jet sweep action on a throw-back pass. That’s how it stood at the half as River crowned Morgan Marshall as Homecoming Queen, just shortly after she kicked one of two extra points for the Knights.
Ruley scored twice in the third quarter on a 55-yard reception and a two-yard run, but River answered when Hammons hit Adam Bridges with a 15-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21-14. Ruley’s final burst then put it away.
“I thought we played as well as we played at any point this season,” said Jennings. “We were in it the entire game.”
The Knights had one of their better rushing games of the season with 99 yards, including 54 by Chase Cuddy on 10 attempts. Conner Church ran 12 times for 38 yards.
Defensively, Addison McCaleb had a dozen tackles to lead the Knights, including five solos. Nathan Farris and John Austin had seven tackles apiece and Matthew Clayton and Tanner Dillow had six each. George Toliver had two sacks.
“Overall, we played well, but not quite good enough to win,” said Jennings. “I hope we can build on this in the next three months. I told the kids they can’t take off because the fall season will be coming around before we know it and we can’t afford to start over.”
