The William Byrd football team will be heading back to Lynchburg this
Saturday with revenge on their mind. Byrd is the Region 3D champion once again
after defeating Lord Botetourt in overtime last week, setting up a rematch of last
year’s state semifinal with Liberty Christian Academy.
Last year Byrd took a 12-1 record into the state semifinal only to lose to
undefeated LCA, 49-6. The Bulldogs went on to win the state Class 3
championship over Lafayette in the final.
This year is much the same scenario. Byrd comes in at 11-2 and LCA is
once again undefeated after beating Turner Ashby in the Region 2C semifinal, 56-
23. In fact, the Bulldogs are working on a 26 game winning streak heading into
this week’s game and aren’t the most popular program among public schools.
Some feel a private school shouldn’t be competing against public schools in
Virginia High School League playoffs and that concern was voiced by members
of the Vinton community after last year’s game.
But, it is what it is and the Terriers are hoping to pull off the upset this
Saturday. Terrier coach Brad Lutz feels having played the Bulldogs last year will
help in his preparation for this Saturday’s game.
“Playing against them last year helps us understand the speed and size that
they have on their roster,” said Lutz. “Unfortunately, they are a private school that
brings in players from not only around the state, but outside of the state. They
have a few new players on their roster that we did not see last year.”
No one is counting the Terriers out after last Friday’s win over Lord
Botetourt in the Region 3D championship game in Daleville. Byrd came from 18
points behind in the third quarter to send the game into overtime, then win in
dramatic fashion.
Botetourt had a 6-0 lead after one quarter. Connor Whitehead’s 22 yard
field goal cut the lead in half, but LB’s Quinton Jones answered with a 25 yard
TD run and Tristan Overbay ran in for two to make up for the missed extra point
kick on Botetourt’s first score.
Byrd cut the lead to 14-10 on a 55 yard run by Gray Matthews, along with
Whitehead’s extra point, but Overbay scored right before the half to put LB up
20-10 at the half as their two-point try failed.
Botetourt went up 28-10 in the third quarter as Overbay ran 51 yards for a
score and Quinton Jones converted a two-point try. That put the Terriers in a hole,
down three scores with a quarter and a half to go, but the Terriers didn’t fold.
They made a memorable comeback that will go down as one of the best in Byrd
history as Matthews cut the lead to 28-16 on a one yard run to close out the third
quarter.
“We made a few defensive adjustments at halftime that proved to be the
difference in the game,” said Lutz.
Byrd cut the lead to 28-24 in the fourth period on a 27 yard TD pass from
Cannin Lutz to Jerrett Shepherd, and Lutz passed to Aiden Kelly for the two-point conversion. Lutz then hooked up with Matthews, this time for a 58 yard score,
and Whitehead’s kick put Byrd ahead for the first time in the game, 31-28.
Botetourt didn’t go quietly. The Cavaliers drove into the red zone with
time running out and Dean Webb kicked a 25 yard field goal with eight seconds
on the clock to tie the game at 31-31 and send it into overtime.
LB went first in overtime and Angel Rigney scored on a three yard run.
Webb kicked the point but Byrd matched it on a six yard TD pass from Lutz to
Jonathan Rosser and Whitehead kicked the extra point.
Now 38-38, Byrd went first in the second overtime and Matthews scored
from the 10. Byrd went for two and quarterback Lutz ran it in for a 46-38 lead.
On Botetourt’s possession Rigney found Seth Reiter open in the end zone
for a 10 yard TD. LB had to go for two to send it to a third OT, but the pass was
incomplete and Byrd had a two point win and a Region 3D championship for the
second year in a row.
“Our team has played great in the playoffs, and our players are gaining
more confidence each week,” said Coach Lutz of the thrilling comeback and
overtime success. “We’ve played a lot of really good football teams this season,
and played in a lot of close games, which prepared us for Friday’s second half and
overtime.”
Matthews, a freshman who has had a sensational second half of the season
and playoffs, rushed for 164 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns. He also
had four catches for 100 yards and another score. Jalen Toler had two carries for
33 yards.
Cannin Lutz completed 17 of 24 passes for 207 yards and two scores. In
addition to the four passes to Matthews Kam McKee had three catches for 48
yards and Shepherd had three for 37.
On defense Blake Anderson had 12 tackles. Maurice Burnette had nine
tackles, including three for losses and five pressures. Shepherd had eight tackles
and Ethan Haston had six.
Game time at Liberty Christian Academy’s stadium this Saturday is 2 p.m.
The winner will meet the winner of a game between Region 3B champion Kettle
Run and Region 3A champion Lafayette on Saturday, December 14, at 11:30 a.m.
at Liberty University.
1969 WBHS ALUNI FOOTBALL PLAYER