The game everyone was hoping for has arrived. Lord Botetourt will host William Byrd Friday night in Daleville in a Region 3D semifinal football game.
The two Blue Ridge District rivals played an “instant classic” on Oct. 24 in Vinton. A back-and-forth shootout ended in a 42-41 win for the host Terriers, their second close win over the Cavaliers in the past two meetings. Last November in the playoffs, Byrd ended LB’s season with a 46-44 double overtime win. Since Brad Lutz became head coach at Byrd in 2019 the teams have met 10 times and Jamie Harless’ Cavaliers hold a 6-4 edge. However, Byrd has won four of the last five.
With that in mind, fans were excited to see LB and Byrd ranked two-three when the Region 3D final power ratings were released at the end of the regular season. Both teams finished 7-3 but LB had a slightly higher power rating to earn the second spot and home advantage if both teams won their opening round playoff games. That came to fruition last week as third seeded Byrd beat sixth seeded Bassett, 38-10, and LB hammered seventh seeded Cave Spring, 42-7.
So, the border rivals Terriers and Cavaliers meet again this Friday with a spot in the region final on the line. Botetourt will be the host team with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“Absolutely it will be an advantage playing at home,” said LB coach Harless. “We love playing at home.”
The Cavs were home last Friday against Cave Spring and rode a big night by Quentin Jones to a resounding victory. Jones scored three first half touchdowns as the Cavaliers took a 28-7 lead at the half. Quentin scored on a 36-yard run and a 66-yard punt return in the first quarter and a 32-yard TD run in the second quarter. Angel Rigney added a three-yard TD in the second quarter.
Botetourt put it away in the second half. Rigney scored on a 13-yard run in the third quarter and Jones added a 35-yard run in the fourth that set the clock running continuously. Caleb Miller was perfect on six extra point kicks.
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
As is usually the case, LB finished with two backs with over 100 yards rushing. Jones had 203 yards on 16 carries and Rigney had 128 yards on 22 attempts. The two averaged a combined 8.7 yards per attempt while LB only attempted one pass in the game.
With the win the Cavaliers improved to 8-3 on the season. The win marked the 11th year in a row the Cavaliers have won eight or more games in a season. Prior to Harless arriving in 2012, the Cavaliers had just four seasons of eight or more wins in 52 years of varsity football.
The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the Region 3D semifinal and play the winner of a game between top-seeded Magna Vista and Carroll County. If Magna Vista wins this week, the region final will be in Ridgeway, but if Carroll County pulls an upset the game would be at the site of the LB-Byrd winner.
