William Campbell “lights up” Altavista 28-6 in game resumed on Monday
Altavista H.S., Altavista, VA – Night games require lights. That was the one thing absent beginning with about five minutes left in the third quarter of a very competitive 6-6 game between Dogwood rivals Altavista and William Campbell. The atmosphere of the game was awesome. Both communities came out. , and Altavista’s homecoming was good. The game was a defensive battle from the jump before the power went out. Both teams had managed only a touchdown each by the the 5:36 mark of the third quarter. But that’s when darkness fell. Football is a tough game under any circumstances, but playing a blind man’s bluff 
version isn’t up for consideration, so the game will resume Monday night. William Campbell broke open the scoring in the 1st quarter with a 3 yard touchdown run by WR/DB 6 J.J. Graves, after going to the wildcat formation. It was 6-0 at the half. But Altavista’s DB 1 Tyson Davis got an interception in the third and QB 3 Jordan Pippin ran it in from 8 yards out to tie it up a few plays later. Both extra points were no good. The game was resumed on Monday night and William Campbell’s defense was the big difference in this second round. Two scoop and score TD’s and a smothering pass rush helped the visitors secure the win. William Campbell Head Coach Daniel Broggin and his team weren’t satisfied with Friday night’s effort. “Even though the game was 6-6 on Friday night, our kids knew that didn’t play Generals football. We played really good on defense, but the guys on offense, you could tell… backs weren’t hitting the holes hard, QB made a wrong call, receivers didn’t get the play call to the quarterback,. The guys left with a sour taste in their mouth. They wanted to come out and proved to everybody that wasn’t them Friday night.”
The Altavista Colonels enter the field through the fog
First Quarter– Altavista opened the game with possession on their own thirty-five-yard line. Quickly it become apparent that in this game every possession would carry significance as Altavista slowly moved down the field taking their time and most of the first quarter with them.
William Campbell WR/RB 6 J.J. Graves opens the nights scoring
William Campbell’s defense was the first unit to make major play of the game as they stopped Altavista on their opening possession giving their freshman QB 3 Montavious Thompson and the offense the ball on their own eleven-yard line. William Campbell was able to move the ball down the field on the opening possession as the rotated from spread to power multiple times. The first quarter ended with the Generals threatening deep in Colonels’ territory.
Second Quarter– Alternating from power to spread numerous times in the opening drive seemed to work for the Colonels as they were able to continue their opening drive into the 2nd quarter. They were able to cap off this drive 85-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run from RB 4 Ladarius Berkley. After a failed fake extra point the Colonels lead 6-0 with 9:56 remaining in the first half. The remainder of the first half saw Altavista struggle to move the ball as they were penalized five times over their next two possessions. William Campbell nearly scored on a half back pass but couldn’t muster any more offense and the Colonels would head to half time holding a 6-0 lead.
Altavista QB 3 Jordan Pippen takes it in from around the right end
Third Quarter – William Campbell began the 2nd half with the ball on their own sixteen-yard line. The Colonels were threatening to move into scoring position after a 27-yard reception from WR 6 JJ Graves and a couple of nice runs, but the Altavista came up with a huge interception giving them the ball back with momentum. Altavista was able to capitalize on this turnover marching down the field on the ground before QB 3 Jordan Pippin ran in for a 12-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, and the game was tied at 6 with 7:10 remaining in the 3rd quarter. On the following William Campbell possession, the lights would go out and the game would be deemed unsafe to play. It was postponed until Monday at 7 PM with play resuming at the 5:36 mark in the 3rd quarter.
When play resumed on Monday night, this was a different looking William Campbell team. They started with the ball on their own forty nine, and it took only four plays for the Generals to take the lead. RB 4 Lardius Berkley bulled in from thirteen yards out and RB/WR/DB 6 J.J. Graves darted in for the two pointer to make it 14-6 William Campbell at the 4:08 mark. The drive took only a minute and a half, but more importantly established the visitors and gave them what proved to be all the points their defense would need to get the win. Altavista had the ball on offense twice in the balance of third quarter but Sophomore QB 3 Jordan Pippen couldn’t find time to throw or room to run. The Campbell defense pinned their ears back and got after him. DL 70 Tristin Herald produced a second down sack for the Generals on Altavista’s first drive putting them behind the chains. On the Colonels next possession it was back to back stuffs, a sack by DL 55 Rakell Yuille and then a tackle for no gain by LB 4 Berkley and DL 55 Yuille. Coach Broggin used the break between the pause and the restart of the game on Monday to make some changes. “(We made some) slight adjustments from Friday night on defense…(We) came off the ball aggressively.”
Campbell Coach Broggin talks with his RB 4 Ledarius Berkley
General LB 11 Hunter Wright gets the night’s first ‘scoop and score.
Fourth Quarter – Speaking of defense, the Generals’ stoppers stepped up in a big way in the final stanza. Coach Broggin spoke about getting turnovers in the post game, “We preach it (turnovers).. tackle the football as well when you’re tackling the man.” The Generals did just that. In a period of :19 seconds, the visitors recorded two scoop and scores on fumble returns for touchdowns. The first was created by DL 55 Garner on the initial stop. When help arrived, LB 11 Hunter Wright ripped the ball out and motored the 23-yards left for the defensive score. RB 23 Anthony Boyd’s two point run was stuffed but the Generals lead was now 20-6. To add insult to injury to the Colonels, it happened again. Two plays later, QB 3 Pippen found TE 8 Randle Ford in the flat for a short seven yard gain but DB 2 Russell Thompson jarred it loose and then DB 1 Deshawn Hamlet picked it up and thirty-nine yards later the General defense had matched their offense in scoring on the night. The time RB 23 Boyd would not be denied on the two point try. The Generals led 28-6 with seven minutes left in the game. Altavista had two more chances to cut into the lead but QB 3 Pippen didn’t have time against the motivated General defense. Back to back sacks by DL 54 Ja-zel Garner and LB Wright thwarted the Colonels ability to move the ball.
DB 1 Deshawn Hamlett scores the games second fumble return for a touchdown
In games where the kids know each other off the field as well as on, it always makes for an interesting battle. Coach Broggin thinks familiarity plays into this annual battle. “A lot of kids know each other. Anytime you get to play someone you know personally, you don’t have to get up for that.”
Don’t be surprised if these two teams see each other again, once we get into the playoffs. Coach Broggin talked about that aspect. “When you are in the same county, in the Dogwood (District) together, and you’re both Single A… you are playing for something. This game always means something. You can position yourself to get into the playoffs sometimes, and 9 out of 10 times you may see each other again in the post season.” Seeing these two square off again in the post season wouldn’t be a bad thing. – Josiah Elmore
William Campbell Head Coach Daniel Broggin and Altavista Head Coach Andy Cox
Rushing: William Campbell – X. Daye 8/43, L. Berkley 3/25, 2TD, J. Graves 5/48, 2pt, A. Boyd 2/5, 2pt, M. Thompson 1/(-2), Guthrie 2/0, Team 2/0
Altavista – J. Pippin 13/(-27), TD, M. Dawkins 6/58, C. Mason 5/13, M. Stone 5/14, T. Davis 1/2,
Passing: William Campbell – M. Thompson 11/19, 113, 2 INTS
Altavista – J. Pippin 1/11, 7
Receiving: William Campbell – L. Stone 1/30, J. Graves 2/29, D. Hamlett 2/25, X. Daye 2/5, R. Thompson 1/7 J. Berkley 1/15, E. Jackson 1/7 Altavista – R. Ford 1/7
Scoring:
First Quarter –
• William Campbell – L. Berkley 2-yard rushing TD; PAT no good (9:51)
Second Quarter –
Third Quarter –
• Altavista – J. Pippin 12-yard rushing TD (7:10); PAT no good (7:10)
• William Campbell – L. Berkley 13-yard rushing TD; J.J. Graves 2 ptr (4:08)
Fourth Quarter –
• William Campbell – H. Wright 23-yard fumble return for a TD; 2 pt try no good (5:28)
• William Campbell – D. Hamlett 42-yard fumble return for a TD; A. Boyd 2 ptr (5:09)