Two fumbled scores launches Fort Chiswell 36-14 win over East Mont
Eastern Montgomery HS, Elliston, VA – In about as unusual a way a game can start, both teams recovery a fumble to produce the games first points, a score for each. Fort Chiswell forced a fumble on East Mont’s first play from scrimmage. The Pioneers, behind the running of QB 3 Brayden Billings (25/147,2TDs), used three plays to get points. How they got them was a bit unusual.
On second and goal, Billings was met in the tackle hole by LB/DL 30 Issac Stiltner who knocked the ball loose, but as he made the tackle, he inadvertently kicked the ball into the end zone where Pioneer WR 5 Garrett Stone dove on it for six points. East Mont’s defense scored the Mustang’s first points, nine minutes later on a sack-strip by DL 66 Matt Hylton on the goal line. After the first quarter, it was 6-6.
Fort Chiswell Head Coach Zane Quesenberry had never started a game quite like that, but the Pioneers made some adjustments and pulled eventually put some daylight between the Pioneers and Mustangs. Nursing a 19-6 half time lead, Coach Quesenberry made it simple for his Chiswell team at half, “Come out and punch one in (at the start of the second half) and we’re going to put a lot of pressure on them.” That they did.
| Fort Chiswell | Eastern Montgomery | |
| 1st Downs | 16 | 10 |
| Rushes/Yards | 46/245, 3TDs | 37/116 |
| Passing – Yards | 1/5, 9, INT | 1/5,55,INT |
| Total Yards | 254 | 171 |
| Return Yards | 2/11 | 4/187, TD |
| Punt/ Avg yards | 2/28 yd avg | 3/32 yd avg |
| Penalties -Yards | 9/75 | 4/20 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Score | 36 | 14 |
The visitors, utilizing the running of RB 10 Ethan Martin (15/197,TD), drove the ball 67-yards in ten plays to take control of the game on a RB 34 Vance Maxwell’s 8-yard TD run to make it 26-6. Quesenberry felt like his kids pushed thought on the ‘post Hurricane Helene’ field conditions. “(The field was) so sloppy today, but overall our kids handled it well.” Of course, both teams dealt with the same slippery footing. Billings came out and nailed a 43-yard field goal, then followed that up at the end of the game with a 4-yard TD run for a nightcap.
East Mont’s final score came in the fourth quarter on a 89-yard ‘pick 6’ by QB/DB 7 Kellen Stewart. The Freshman made a nifty break on the ball, then zigzagged across the field to get into the end zone. Coach Quesenberry was happy to get his team’s first win of the season. “Our kids came out and executed our game plan really well. East Mont is a tough team. They are eager and hungry for wins, and that makes them dangerous, We were also hungry for a win, and fortunately we came out on top today.” – Cap’n Crunch
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Fort Chiswell | 6 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 36 |
| East Mont | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
Offense:
Rushing –
Fort Chiswell– Brayden Billings 25/147,2TDs, Ethan Martin 15/197,TD, Vance Maxwell 2/15,TD, Cam Alley 3/(-14), Caleb Wright – 1/0, Garrett Stone – TD East Mont – Marshall Tate 15/77, Austin Tate 7/28, Issac Stiltner 5/11, Kellen Stewart 9/1, Chase Bierman 1/0
Passing-
Fort Chiswell– Brayden Billings 1/5,9,INT East Mont – 1/5,55,INT
Punting –
Fort Chiswell– Brayden Billings 2/28 yd avg East Mont – Marshall Tate 3/32 yd avg
Returns –
Fort Chiswell– Ethan Martin 2/(-3), Cam Moody 1/14
East Mont – Kellen Stewart 1/89,TD, Parker Wonner 2/73, Kevin Mateo-Vascelanos 1/25
Kicking –
Fort Chiswell– Brayden Billings 43-yd FG
Scoring
1st Quarter:
FC 6-0 Garrett Stone fumble recovery in end zone; PAT no good (11:12)
EM 6-6 Matt Hylton fumble recovery in the end zone: 2pt try failed (2:11)
2nd Quarter:
FC 12-6 Brayden Billings 2 yard TD run; 2pt try failed (8:58)
FC 19-6 Ethan Martin 18-yard TD run; Brayden Billings PAT good (6:13)
3rd Quarter:
FC 26-6 Vance Maxwell 8-yard TD run; Brayden Billings PAT good (7:06)
FC 29-6 Braydon Billings 43-yard FG (3:26)
4th Quarter:
EM 29-14 Kellen Steward 89-yard INT for a TD; Marshall Tate 2ptr (8:13)
FC 36-14 Brayden Billings 4 yard TD run; Brayden Billings PAT good (5:24)