When Northside played Lord Botetourt in football on November 1, the Cavaliers were shut out for just the second time in the past 12 seasons. Last Friday, they met again in the first round of the Region 3D playoffs and the Cavaliers scored 43 points. And, they needed every one of them.
Lord Botetourt took a 43-41 overtime win in Daleville to open the Virginia High School League playoffs and advance to this Friday’s region semifinal in Ridgeway. Botetourt’s offense was hitting on all cylinders and the Cavaliers got a stop in overtime that sealed the deal.
“We should have scored 42 the first time we played them,” said LB coach Jamie Harless. “Like I said at the time, we were spinning our wheels in the mud in that game. I feel we definitely did a better job as coaches this time.”
Northside was home for the first meeting but this time LB got to host as the third seed in the Region 3D tournament while the Vikings were sixth. The Cavaliers got on the board first when they surprised Northside with a 51-yard pass from their top runner, Tristan Overbay, who hit Cody McConnaughey for a 7-0 lead after the first quarter.
Overbay’s three-yard run and Dean Webb’s extra point kick put the Cavs up 14-0, but Northside answered with a 99-yard kickoff return by Mykell Harvey. The Vikings tied the game, 14-14, on a punt return, but Quinton Jones scored before the half and LB led 20-14 at intermission.
The two teams traded third period scores. Overbay ran one in from 48 yards, then scored a two-point conversion for a 28-14 lead. Harvey scored again on a 14-yard run to make it 28-21 after three, then opened the fourth quarter with his third touchdown and it was all tied up at 28-28 for the stretch run.
Botetourt regained the lead on Overbay’s third TD run, this one from one yard, but Harvey matched it with this fourth touchdown on a 35-yard gallop to make it 35-35, and that’s how the score stood at the end of regulation.
Botetourt went first in the overtime and scored on a four-yard run by Jones, and he converted the two-point conversion for a 43-35 lead. It was unusual for a team to go for two at that point, but Harless was confident of the decision.
“I didn’t think they could stop him,” he said. “He walked into the end zone.”
Northside went next and Harvey scored for the fifth time. The Vikings were forced to go for two at this point but Jones broke up a pass to seal the game for the Cavaliers.
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
Botetourt finished with 364 yards rushing in the game. Overbay had 188 on 23 carries while Jones had 158 on 27 attempts. That offset Harvey’s big night, as the Northside back rushed for 207 yards and finished with over 300 all-purpose yards in the game.
With the win LB advances to the region semifinal at Magna Vista this Friday. The second-seeded Warriors edged Christiansburg, 28-25, in their opening round game last Friday in Ridgeway. In the other semifinal top-seeded Abingdon will host fourth-seeded William Byrd. If LB and Abingdon win this Friday the Cavaliers will play at Abingdon the day after Thanksgiving. If LB and Byrd win the Cavs would have a home game against the Terriers.
But first things first, and Magna Vista won’t be easy. The Warriors lost to Staunton River in their first game of the season but have won 10 of the past 11, with the only loss coming to Region 4D top seed George Washington of Danville.
“They’re big and athletic,” said Harless.
The two teams have played two times prior, both in the post-season. In 2015 they met in the state championship game at Liberty University and Magna Vista won 47-21. Two years later LB took a 42-14 win in the second round of the region tournament.
Harless feels playing a close game like the one with Northside last week will be a positive for his team going forward.
“Our kids gave a great effort and playing four quarters of football definitely helps you,” he said. “But if you’re a coach it will about drive you nuts.”
