JF looks like old pros in first playoff win

FOREST — A mosh pit of players, coaches and fans hugged, high-fived and hollered at the 35-yard line of Jefferson Forest’s football field Friday night.

It was a celebration befitting a first-time playoff winner. But the rest of the night the Cavaliers looked like postseason veterans.

A playoff participant for the first time since 1999, JF rolled up 375 yards (259 rushing) and held Rockbridge County to 91 yards and only six first downs in a 35-0 win in the Division 4, Region III, quarterfinals.

Forgive the Cavaliers for being a little excited afterward. They hadn’t won a playoff game since a 27-0 victory over Brookville in the 1997 Region III championship game.

“It’s a big deal. It’s been a goal ever since we started in the offseason eight months ago,” senior defensive lineman Dustin Engledove said. “In the weight room, we were training for this and we’re finally here. To win 35-0, we couldn’t ask for anything more.”

The Cavaliers (8-3) visit Turner Ashby next Friday in the Division 4, Region III, semifinals.

JF’s confidence is soaring after playing a near-perfect game in its playoff opener.

“I think we can go as far as this team wants to go,” said Don Rice, who is in his fifth year as the Cavaliers’ coach. “We’ve got Turner Ashby, and that’s all we’re worried about right now. We’ll see what happens there, and then move on.”

Its defense held the Wildcats to negative-7 rushing yards, sacked Rockbridge quarterback Blake Coffey three times and forced three turnovers.

Defensive back Brandon Harrison and linebacker Tyler Rosser each had long interception returns in the second half, and JF also recovered a fourth-quarter fumble.

The Cavaliers used a balanced scoring attack. Desmond Goode, who rushed for a game-high 154 yards, made like a freight train and pushed defenders out of the way on a 43-yard touchdown run down the right sideline in the first quarter.

“I just basically ran to the outside, saw the cut-back lane, hit it and broke a couple of tackles,” Goode said. “After that, end zone.”

Jeff Brown, who blocked a field goal in the second quarter to preserve the Cavaliers’ second shutout of the season, had touchdown runs of 6 and 2 yards.

Harrison lined up at quarterback for the final two possessions of the first half and led JF to two touchdowns. Brown’s 6-yard scoring run came with 2:03 remaining.

The Cavaliers got the ball back at the Wildcats’ 48-yard line with about 30 seconds left before halftime.

Harrison hit Mark Carter for a 21-yard completion and then found wide-open wide receiver Colby Rhodes in the right side of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown exchange with 12 seconds to go.

Four different players scored touchdowns for JF. Fullback Ryan Glavis scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter to give the JF its final margin of victory.

The Cavaliers didn’t look like playoff newbies. If anything, they looked like seasoned pros.

“I don’t know about anybody else, but I was confident,” Engledove said. “We had a heck of a week in practice, and we came out and played just like we practiced. We killed them.”