Wild fourth quarter decides it – Botetourt pulls out 28-27 win over C-burg
George N. Porterfield Jr. Stadium, Christiansburg, VA. – The Lord Botetourt Cavaliers squared off against the Christiansburg Blue Demons Friday night in the 2nd round of the Virginia High School League football playoffs. The Blue Demons, who earned the region’s no. 1 seed, had to wait on the Cavaliers due to 1-81 traffic which pushed game time back to 8:15 pm. For all the spectators who stayed put, it was definitely worth the wait as these two physical teams played one of the most exciting games this season. 
The score was notched at 14-14 at halftime before Lord Botetourt’s WR/DB 1Joey Isaacs broke the tie with an 87 yard kickoff return for a TD to start the second half. In a game with several noteworthy individual performances, Isaacs led the way with 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a crucial fumble recovery. All that said, the Blue Demons were able to keep pace with the Cavaliers and scored with 2:32 left in the 4th quarter to cut the lead to one, 28-27. Christiansburg went for two but came up just short, but they weren’t done. An onside kick recovery and a 43-yard pass completion had the Blue Demons with a 1st and goal on the LB 5-yard line with 1:30 left. Just when it looked like the home team would pull off the unimaginable, a mishandled pitch was recovered by Lord Botetourt’s Isaacs and the Cavaliers hung on to a thrilling 28-27 victory over the Blue Demons. Next, the Cavs will face Abingdon in the region finals.
First Quarter – Most teams that win the coin toss elect to defer their decision until the second half, but not so for the Blue Demons on this night. It was obvious they wanted to establish themselves early and get on the board first – and that they did. Setup by a QB 8 Casey Graham to WR 3 JayRon Thompson catch and run for 54 yards, RB 31 Stephan Myrthil (32-124, TD) scored from the 1 yard line just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the game. K 7 Jonah Bremner added the PAT and the Blue Demons were up 7-0.
Christiansburg WR/DB 3 JayRon Thompson down the sidelines for a 34-yard pickup
They continued to apply pressure on the visiting Cavaliers when QB/DB 11 Jeremiah Thompson recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt and Christiansburg quickly moved to the LB 35 yard line. On the next play, however, Lord Botetourt DB/WR 1 Joey Isaacs jumped the route on the Blue Demon pass, got the pick, and headed the other way for a momentum changing play that flipped the field and gave the Cavaliers the ball at Christiansburg’s 35.
Cavalier WR/DB/KR 1 Joey Isaacs returns a pass interception to the Cburg 35-yardline
Four plays later, Lord Botetourt QB/DB 7 KJ Bratton (11-70, TD) scampered 18 yards for pay dirt, and after K 3 Bryson Harvey made the PAT, the score was even-steven at 7.
Lord Botetourt RB/QB/DB 7 K.U. Bratten finds the end zone from 18-yards out
It did not take Christiansburg very long to re-take the lead though when RB/DB 4 Tanner Evans (12-91, TD) broke through the line and outran the defense for a 43 yard sprint to the end zone. K 7 Bremner was true again and the score was 14-7, Christiansburg.
Blue Demon RB/QB/DB 4 Tanner Evans drags Botetourt DB/WR 21 Hayden Martin
Second Quarter – The defenses stiffened in the second quarter and neither team mounted a threat until Lord Botetourt’s offense got the ball back with 2:08 remaining in the period. That is when the Cavaliers put together an 8-play drive that culminated in a touchdown with 24 seconds left when QB 13 Jakari Nicely (32-124, TD rushing, 6/6-73, TD pass) completed a 29-yard TD pass to WR/DB 1 Isaacs (3-59, TD) who literally wrestled the ball away from the Blue Demon defender in the end zone to send the teams into intermission tied at 14-all.
Third Quarter – Coming out of the half, the Blue Demons kicked the ball deep to 
Lord Botetourt’s Isaacs and he took the ball straight up the middle, weaved around defenders, and then sprinted 87 yards for the kickoff return touchdown to give the Cavaliers their first lead.
The extra point was good by K 3 Harvey and Botetourt went up 21-14. Christiansburg immediately put together a 15 play drive and were knocking on the door at the LB 14 yard line when LB’s Isaacs intercepted his 2nd pass on the game at the 2 yard line to turn back the Blue Demon threat. However, after a Cavalier punt on their next possession, the Blue Demons got a 32 yard punt return from RB/DB 4 Evans for great field position at the LB 25 yard line.
Blue Demon TE 20 Blue Demon Tyrique Taylor’s 15-yard TD catch knots the score at 21
Three plays later QB 8 Graham found TE/DL 20 Tyrique Taylor on the right side of the end zone for a clutch 15 yard grab for 6. K 7 Bremner’s PAT was good and for the 3rd time in the game the score was tied – deadlocked at 21.
Fourth Quarter – The Cavaliers offense was on the move early in the 4th quarter, QB 7 Bratton had a 19 yard pickup and QB 13 Nicely hit WR 1 Isaacs with a pinpoint pass for another 19 yard gain, before he finished the deal with a 1-yard TD plunge. The PAT from K 7 Harvey was good and LB took back the lead 28-21 with 8:11 left in the game.
Botetourt QB/DB 13 Jakari Nicely’s 1-yard TD run gives LB 28-21 lead
Both teams traded possessions before the Blue Demon took over on their own 34 yard line with 3:51 left. On the first play from scrimmage, QB 8 Graham was at it again and found a wide open WR/DB 5 Jaxon Clarke for a 52 yard completion and a 1st down on the LB 19 yard line.
Christiansburg WR/DB 5 Jaxon Clarke hauls in a 52 yard pass from QB 8 Casey Graham
Thre plays later, RB/LB 31 Stephan Myrthil scampered in from the 7 and the score was 28-27. The Blue Demons called a timeout and decided to go for the win with a 2-pt conversion attempt but were stopped millimeters from the goal line with 2:29 remaining.
Christiansburg’s 2-pt conversion run stopped at the goal line
In this emotional roller coaster of a game, despair turned quickly to joy for the Christiansburg faithful as they boys in blue recovered the onside kick and after a 43 yard pass from RB/DB 4 Evans to WR/DB 2 Travis Altizer, and the Blue Demons had a 1st and goal from the 5 with 1:18 left.
On Christiansburg’s next play, the pitch was fumbled and ultimately recovered by LB’ Joey Isaacs, and the Cavaliers hung on for the 28-27 victory and advanced to the Region Championship next week vs. Abingdon. – T-Mac
Offense:Rushing–
Christiansburg – K. Johnson-Buchannon 5-20, T. Evans 12-91, TD,
D. Lloyd 1-5, C. Graham 1-4, S. Myrthil 20-82, 2 TD
Lord Botetourt – J. Nicely 32-124, TD, KJ Bratton 11-70, TD, A. Gilbert 1-2,
Passing–
Christiansburg– C. Graham 7/14-159, 2 INT, TD, T.Evans 1/1-43
Lord Botetourt – J. Nicely 6/6-73, TD
Receiving–
Christiansburg– J. Thompson 2-63, T. Taylor 1-15, TD, J. Clarke 2-60, T. Evans 1-6, T. Altizer 2-58
Lord Botetourt – J. Isaacs 3-59, TD, Bratton 3-14
Punting–
Christiansburg– C. Altizer 2-30.5
Lord Botetourt – B. Harvey 3-34.3
Scoring:
First Quarter
• Cburg – S.Myrthil 1-yd run; J.Bremner PAT (10:41)
• Lord Bot – KJ Bratton 18-yd run; B.Harvey PAT (6:45)
• Cburg – T.Evans 43-yd run; J.Bremner PAT (4:53)
Second Quarter
• Lord Bot – J.Isaacs 29-yd pass from J.Nicely; B.Harvey PAT (0:24)
Third Quarter
• Lord Bot -J.Isaacs 87-yd KO return; B.Harvey PAT (11:48)
• Cburg – T.Taylor 15-yd pass from C.Graham; J.Bremner PAT (0:41)
Fourth Quarter
• Lord Bot -J.Nicely 1-yd run; B.Harvey PAT (8:11)
• Cburg – S.Myrthil 7-yd run; 2-pt try failed (2:32)