Appomattox raids Nelson County to keep pace in Dogwood

The logjam atop the Dogwood District didn’t loosen up Friday night as Gretna, Altavista and Appomattox all won convincingly.

The Raiders routed Nelson County 50-14 to stay in the race for the district championship. Quarterback Kenny Scott accounted for 193 total yards (139 rushing) and two rushing touchdowns, and Joe Reed rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries to lead the attack.

Appomattox’s defense was pretty stout, too, forcing six turnovers and holding the Governors (1-6, 0-3) to 85 total yards. Daniel Disney recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, and Rico Rose returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Nelson County’s Trey Barnett returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries.

Playoff implications will be high next Friday as Appomattox (6-2, 3-1) hosts Gretna, the lone team in the Dogwood with an undefeated district record, at 7 p.m.

Staunton River 31, Alleghany 20

The Golden Eagles scored 12 fourth-quarter points to erase a 20-19 Allegany lead in a Blue Ridge Conference game in Moneta. 

Cody Jones, who also passed for two touchdowns, ran for a 21-yard score to put Staunton River (5-3) up for good, and Wesley Gates tacked on some insurance with a 50-yard interception return.

Gates’ interception return was one of four touchdowns on the night for the senior. He also had a 97-yard kickoff return for a score and caught touchdown receptions of 37 and 36 yards from Jones.

Meech Coles, the area’s leading rusher, had 86 yards on 23 carries.

Liberty 35, Rustburg 7

Liberty (8-1, 4-1) scored on the first play from scrimmage as Tyler Bowyer completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Reynolds in the Minutemen’s Seminole District road win over Rustburg (1-7, 0-4) to keep the pressure on undefeated Seminole leader Amherst (8-0, 5-0 Seminole).

Bowyer completed a second touchdown pass to Matt Kerr for 23 yards and finished the night 4-of-4 passing with two scores and 118 yards. Reynolds also returned a fumble 31 yards for a touchdown. Malcolm McCoy had a 61-yard touchdown run and led Liberty with 74 yards on just seven rushing attempts.

Stacey Charlton led the Red Devils’ attack with 46 yards on the ground, including a 33-touchdown run and he caught four passes for 42 yards.

LCA 49, Hargrave 7

Liberty Christian Academy’s Desmond Rice rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs past Hargrave in a Virginia Independent Conference game at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium on Friday.

Rice scored on runs of 36, 6, and 3 yards. Mike Rocco threw for two scores and rushed for another as LCA (8-1, 3-0 VIC) out-gained the Tigers (1-6, 0-3) 262 yards to 50.