Raiders roll over previously unbeaten Clarke County

BERRYVILLE — A few moments before, Clarke County High School’s fans were screaming louder than they had all game. As two players hit Appomatox County quarterback Kenny Scott at the Eagles’ 37-yard line, they began to roar again.

Their fervor was short-lived. Scott somehow shook off the two tacklers at the line of scrimmage and wasn’t touched again until he crossed the goal line with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders the two-touchdown lead they needed to secure the win.

Behind 396 total yards and six total touchdowns (five rushing) from Scott, fourth-seeded Appomattox upset top-seeded, undefeated Clarke County 42-28 in the Region B, Division 2, semifinals Saturday afternoon at Wilbur M. Feltner Stadium.

The Raiders (9-2) will travel to play No. 2 Gretna (9-2) in next week’s regional final, a rematch of the 2007 Region B semifinal won by the Hawks 52-0. Appommattox defeated the two-time defending state champion 28-26 on Oct. 30.

For a Clarke County (10-1) team that outscored its regular-season opponents by an average of 45 points and outgained them by an average of 310 yards in posting a perfect record, Saturday’s result was a stunner to say the least. The Raiders’ 42 points were eight more than Clarke had allowed all season and their 519 yards were more than 400 more than Clarke was surrendering per game.

Despite the long odds they faced during the second quarter, the Eagles (10-1) nearly avoided the dejec-tion that was apparent on so many of their faces after the final whistle.

Clarke County, which trailed 28-7 with 5:17 left in the second quarter, battled back to make the score 35-28 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Rhoads (11 carries for 82 yards) with 7:30 left in the fourth quarter. Clarke County’s fans, quiet for most of the second half, exploded after Rhoads’ score, and the noise only grew when Appomattox’s offense came onto the field to start possession at its own 34.

Joe Reed (18 carries for 123 yards) gained just two yards on first down, but Scott hit A.J. Rose for a 27-yard completion on second down to put the Raiders at the Clarke 37.

It was Scott’s speed that was primarily responsible for his five total touchdowns that put Appomattox up 35-21 at the half, but on the next play, the 6-foot, 170-pound senior used plenty of brawn. Clarke County had him by his feet, but he was still able to rip himself free, break an arm tackle and burst up the middle.

The ensuing extra point made the score 42-28, and Appomattox held Clarke to minus-15 yards on its last three possessions, with the middle one ending on a Rico Rose interception.

Amidst the Raiders’ post-game euphoria, Scott had no idea how he broke free.

“It was a blown play,” Scott said. “I just did what I had to do to get in the end zone. (That touchdown) was a big turning point. It was huge.”

With 220 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries and 176 yards and one touchdown on 5-of-9 passing, Scott saved one of the best games of his career for the opportune time and place.

Appomattox’s blocking created holes and running lanes for him, and he was just too fast for the Eagles. Scott’s ability to disguise his option intentions bewildered Clarke County, particularly in the first half, and created big plays for him and the rest of the offense.

A 59-yard run by Reed set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Scott with 4:47 left in the first quarter. Scott’s 68-yard touchdown run gave Appomattox a 15-7 lead with 11:25 left in the second quarter. A 49-yard pass to Mike Marshall led to a Scott 13-yard touchdown run on the next possession. Scott hit Neil Thomas on a slant for a 53-yard catch and run touchdown on the possession after that to make it 28-7, and Scott closed the Raiders’ first-half scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run.

“We came in knowing we had more speed than them,” Scott said. “But we had to come in and show we also had a physical team as well as a speed team.”

Raiders coach Ben Martin said he couldn’t be more pleased with his team’s performance.

“We were able to read our option a little better,” Martin said. “Kenny was able to, at times, give it Joe for long runs, and, of course, Kenny had a huge night for us.”

In addition to an explosive offensive effort, the Raiders held Clarke to season lows in points and yards (304).

“We ran our defense,” Martin said. “We run a 3-5 defense, and we’re constantly bringing pressure all the time. We tried to confuse them a little bit.”

The Raiders ran through a “Revenge is Sweet” poster before the game in reference to last year’s playoff loss to Clarke County, and now, they’ll try to prevent Gretna from getting redemption against them.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Scott said. “We beat them once, and we’re going to try and beat them again.”