The second time around wasn’t like the first when it comes to Lord Botetourt against Northside football. Last Friday at Northside the Cavaliers had to go down to the wire before beating the Vikings, 14-10.

The same two teams played in Daleville on September 22, but it didn’t look like the same game. The first time they met LB shut out the Vikings, 34-0, and dominated the game.

“It’s tough to play the same team twice,” said LB coach Jamie Harless. “The first time we played them we beat them pretty bad, and it’s hard to get the kids up to play that team a second time.”

Friday’s game at Northside was tied at the half, 7-7. It was Rice-aroni for LB as Trey Rice ran 36 yards on a fake punt to set up a three-yard TD run by his brother, Hunter. Trey then kicked the extra point.

LB had a chance to go up 14-0 in the second quarter but Hunter was stopped on fourth and goal at the one yard line.

“On that fourth down play the ball was over the line and it wasn’t called a touchdown,” said Harless. “You can see it clearly on the film.”

Northside was able to tie the game at the half, and after a scoreless third quarter the Vikings took their first lead in eight quarters of play against LB this season. A 33-yard field goal by Evan Lawton cleared the bar with just 1:33 left on the clock and the Vikings smelled a big upset.

Not so fast. LB’s Dylan Maclachlan returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards into Viking territory, and after a personal foul tacked on 15 more yards the Cavaliers had the ball on the Northside 26 with plenty of time remaining.

Botetourt moved the ball to the Northside 13-yard line with just 12 seconds now remaining. Preston Martin, who had missed several games with a knee injury, rolled to his right, looked left, and found Dylan Crawford over the middle. Crawford gathered himself and stumbled across the goal line for the winning score.

Martin finished with five completions for 48 yards, and the last one was the best. Evan Eller was one for four passing for 14 yards, as Crawford and Maclachlan caught three passes each.

Hunter Rice had 89 yards on 24 carries after rushing for 224 yards on 21 attempts in the first game between the two. Eller had 63 yards rushing.

Now 7-1, LB will finish up with a game at William Byrd this week, followed by a season-ending home game with William Fleming.

THIS WEEK’S GAME

This week the Cavaliers will be in Vinton to play William Byrd at Robert Patterson Stadium. Since Harless came to town as coach six years ago this has become a tremendous rivalry.

Lord Botetourt is 2-4 in six games with Byrd under Harless, including a playoff loss in 2012. LB won the 2014 and 2015 games, 21-14 and 17-14, but last year the Cavaliers lost to Byrd in Daleville, 54-35, in a late season collapse the Cavaliers have put behind them.

This year both teams come in at 7-1 and both teams have lost only to Staunton River, the Cavaliers by a score of 21-14 and Byrd by a score of 18-13 just last week. The Terriers did not have their best player, Larry Basham, available for that game.

Basham, who is setting Terrier school rushing and scoring records and was challenging Staunton River’s Grayson Overstreet for state records, did not play last week after a team violation. He stood on the sidelines in street clothes at Moneta, but has been practicing this week and figures to play.

With Basham on the field, Byrd is a much more dangerous team. He can break a long one on any play, and he’s even been known to throw an occasional pass.

Both teams are trying to secure good positions in the post-season. LB is currently ranked second in Region 3C, behind only Staunton River. Byrd, in Region 4D, is seventh with the top eight making the playoffs. The Terriers have played a weak schedule, but this week’s game carries a bunch of points for whoever wins the game.

A big crowd is expected in Vinton. Come early if you want a seat.

KEY TO THE GAME

“We need to control the line of scrimmage,” said Harless.