The Lord Botetourt football team defeated Franklin County in football last Friday to hold on to second place in the Region 3D rankings. The Cavaliers are 5-1 after a 26-14 win over the Eagles in Rocky Mount.
This was a big win for the Cavs, as Franklin County is a Class 5 team, two classifications higher than LB. That makes for extra points in the rankings as the second place Cavaliers try to catch first place Magna Vista, who improved to 6-0 with a win over Mecklenburg.
“I think if we win out we can outpoint Magna Vista,” said LB coach Jamie Harless.
What the Cavaliers do in Blue Ridge District play will determine the region seeding. Currently, district foes William Byrd and Northside are third and fourth in the rankings behind Magna Vista and LB, and the Cavaliers still have to play both. They also have William Fleming on Halloween, another Class 5 school with a better record than Franklin County’s 2-4.
“Franklin County’s a lot better team than people think,” said Harless. “They’re 2-4 but they haven’t played any patsies. They’re a good ball club.”
Photos by Connie Meeks
The Cavaliers and Eagles were scoreless in the first quarter before LB broke the ice with a 22-yard TD pass from Angel Rigney to Quentin Jones. The extra point failed as LB led 6-0 at the half.
Jones scored on an 18-yard TD run in the third quarter, then went over from six yards early in the fourth for a 19-0 lead and Botetourt fans could somewhat relax. Rigney had a seven-yard TD run between two big plays by the Eagles, who hit for 76- and 90-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter but never made it closer than a two-score game.
Botetourt’s rushing attack continued to put up big numbers with 280 yards on the ground. Jones had 147 yards on 18 carries and Rigney had 133 yards on 23. Rigney completed four of eight passes for 86 yards with two going to Jones for 32 yards and two completions to Eric Irons for 53.
This Friday the Cavaliers will be back home to host Staunton River. The Eagles are off to a 3-3 start with wins over Hidden Valley, Liberty and Pulaski. They lost to Magna Vista two weeks ago, 28-13, and last week they lost at home to Fleming, 33-14.
“They’re scrappy, like they always are,” said Harless. “They always have some tough kids and they coach ’em up well.”
