After a disappointing start to the season the Lord Botetourt football team bounced back with a dominating win in their home opener. The Cavaliers defeated Rustburg in Daleville last Friday, 38-12, to give Nick Leftwich his first win as LB head coach.
“We played much better this week,” said Leftwich, after Botetourt opened with a 12-9 loss to Rye Cove on a last minute TD the previous week. “We ran the ball well. We got in our heavy set and controlled the clock.”
The Cavaliers used a decided size advantage to run the ball down the Red Devils’ throats. Botetourt had 300 yards rushing on 45 attempts with five touchdowns on the ground. LB had two backs go over 100 yards as Beau Lonker had 141 yards on 19 carries and Gus Feeny had 139 on 18. Lonker scored three TDs and Feeny had two. Quarterback Cael Burton passed just three times, completing one to Rylen Wright for five yards.
“There was no need to pass, we figured we could run right at ’em,” said Leftwich. “They had some speed but they were small.”
After a 6-6 first quarter the Cavaliers put up 13 in the second period for a 19-6 halftime lead. They put it away with two more scores in the third period for a 32-12 lead and then they turned it over to the defense.
Photos by Katie Perry
“The defense played well,” said Leftwich. “We got some turnovers, and we got a break when they snapped one over the punter’s head.”
Chris Paderick had an interception for the Cavs and LB recovered a couple Rustburg fumbles. Callum McCoy led the team with five solo tackles and 10 assists. Lonker had four solos and Gabe Towe had a sack.
Now 1-1, the Cavaliers will have their first of two byes this week. LB will get two byes since they played a game on the “Zero Week” against Rye Cove when most teams in the state were still having scrimmages. Botetourt’s second bye will be in week six.
“Bye weeks are good, but sometimes you’d just as soon play when you’re coming off a win,” said Leftwich. “We’ll start getting ready for Magna Vista this week.”
The Cavs will host Magna Vista in their next game on September 11. Magna Vista opened with a 41-12 win over Rockingham County High of North Carolina last week. The Warriors are at Martinsville this Friday.
Botetourt’s jayvee team defeated Rustburg last Thursday, 29-14. The LB jayvees are also off this week.
