Wk 14 LYN 2024 Buffalo Gap @ Altavista

Altavista passes tough test with 32-20 win over Buffalo Gap in Region Finals

“That’s a helluva football team, but we have one as well. We are a little bit banged up, but I expected that.”

– Altavista Coach Matt DeLoach

Altavista, VA – On a chilly night, Buffalo Gap was a worthy opponent for Altavista, the number one team in the state in 1A. Tough because they run the ball hard out of a tough Shenandoah District, but also because they run the single wing.

Altavista Coach Matt DeLoach commented after the game, “That’s a helluva football team, but we have one as well. We are a little bit banged up, but I expected that.”  On a cold night, if you can run the football, you can win. The Bison and the Colonels sparred for three quarters before Altavista put back to back touchdowns together in the fourth to outpace the visitors. Altavista Sophomore QB 9 Cooper Brooks was a big factor, finishing the night with 8 carries for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior RB/LB 2 Ladanian Stone, who played hurt most of the night, put the team on his back when they needed him. The Senior led all rushers with 106 yards on 13 carries and a TD. “He’s probably the embodiment of our team. He’s such a big guy, but he’s got that will, and it was all will tonight,” said DeLoach.

Buffalo Gap got the scoring started with 2:31 left in the first quarter on RB/LB 11 Colby Yeago’s (22/91,2TDs) 1-yard TD run to go up 6-0. Their 2 point try was no good. The Bison’s had the ball for the first 10 minutes on the game running 18 plays to 2 for the Colonels. When Altavista got it back it took only six plays for the home team to regain the lead. Brooks 21-yard run up the middle and Stone’s 2 point run in the A gap made it 8-6. The Bison’s would answer. A fifteen play drive was finished off by RB 11 Yeago again. This time from 15 yards out, 12-8 Bisons. The 2 pointer failed again. That’s how the half would end. At the start of the second half, Stone, hobbled from a couple first half hits, finished off a five play drive with a 25-yard blast up the gut. RB 4 TJ Robinson got the 2 pointer and Altavista was back on top 16-12.

Buffalo Gap wouldn’t fade. They converted on a fourth down TD pass from QB 2 Jude Louk to WR 12 Bradley Shiplett from the Colonel nineteen to make it 20-16 with the 2 pointer this time, a Yeago run up the middle.Champions show up when they need to. RB/DB 6 Jacorion Davis (6/35,TD) scored from 17 yards out at the 10:41 mark of the 4th quarter, 24-20 Colonels. Altavista’s defense came alive, stopping Yeago and the Bisons after three plays, and then DB 1 Christian Garvin picked off Louk at the Bison twenty three. Four plays later, Brooks took it in from the twelve, 32-20 Altavista, after the 2 pointer. Altavista will now face Essex at Altavista next Saturday. the Trojans beat them 16-8 in last year’s state semifinals. They were the last team to beat Altavista.  – Cap’n Crunch

	1	2	3	4	Final
Altavista	8	0	8	16	32
Buffalo Gap	6	6	8	0	20