Wk 14 NRV 2024 William Byrd @ Lord Botetourt

It takes 2 overtimes to decide winner in battle between Byrd and Botetourt

“(This was) two great football teams that have won some big games, just so proud of our players and our coaches.”

– William Byrd Coach Brad Lutz

Cavalier Field, Daleville,VA – Friday night’s Region 3D championship, with a state semifinal spot on the line, pitted two Blue Ridge District foes in a rematch. Lord Botetourt had won the first matchup 21-13 in mid October. The William Byrd Terriers looked to avenge that regular season loss as they traveled across one county over to take on the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers in what became an instant classic, as it took two overtime periods before the outcome was settled.

The Cavaliers exerted their muscle early and plowed it out with the run game to take a 20-10 halftime lead.  Lord Botetourt rushed 49 times for 370 yards and rode on the shoulders of RB/DB 10 Tristan Overbay (26/213yds,3TDs), RB/DB 0 Quentin Jones (13/85,TD) and QB 2 Angel Rigney (10/72,TD). Botetourt came out of the half and added a 51-yard Overbay TD run to increase their lead to 28-10 with 5:45 left in the 3rd quarter. It seemed the Cavaliers had Byrd on the ropes.

It was at that point that the ‘never-say-die’ Terriers scored 3 straight touchdowns, sparked by Freshman sensation RB/DB 42 Gray Matthews (21/164, 3TD rush, 3/84,TD rec) and their cool handed junior QB 9 Cannin Lutz (15/27,192,2TD pass) as well as an able cast of receivers. Lutz’s 58-yard TD pass to Matthews gave the Terriers their first lead 31-28 with 1:35 left in the game, but the Cavaliers answered, driving 57 yards for a K 3 Dean Webb 25-yard field goal. The clutch kick came with only 12 seconds left.

Offense: 

Rushing – 

William Byrd – Gray Matthews 21/164,3TD, Cannin Lutz 7/(-13)  Lord Botetourt  – Tristan Overbay 26/213,3TDs, Quentin Jones 13/85,TD, Angel Rigney 10//72,TD

Passing- 

William Byrd – Cannin Lutz 15/27,192,2TD  Lord Botetourt  – Angel Rigney 1/4,10,TD

Receiving- 

William Byrd – Kameron McKee 3/43, Jonathan Rosser 2/3, Ethan Haston 2/9, Jerrett Shepherd 4/44,TD, Gray Matthews 3/84,TD, Aiden Kelly 1/9  Lord Botetourt  – Seth Reiter 1/10,TD

Kicking – 

William Byrd – Conner Whitehead 3/4 PAT, 1/1 FG (22 yards)  Lord Botetourt  – Dean Webb 1/2 PAT, 1/1 FG (25 yards)

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Scoring

1st Quarter: 

Lord Bot    6-0 Tristan Overbay 14-yard TD run; PAT failed (2:17)

2nd Quarter:

Wlm Byrd  6-3 Conner Whitehead 22-yard field goal (11:16)

Lord Bot    14-3 Quentin Jones 8-yard TD run; 2pt conversion good  (10:14)

Wlm Byrd  14-10 Gray Matthews 55-yard TD run; Conner Whitehead PAT (5:42)

Lord Bot    20-10 Tristan Overbay 7-yard TD run; 2pt conversion failed (2:06)

3rd Quarter:

Lord Bot    28-10 Tristan Overbay 51-yard TD run; 2pt conversion good(5:45)

Wlm Byrd  28-16 Gray Matthews 1-yard TD run; PAT blocked (1:17)

4th Quarter:

Wlm Byrd  28-24 Jerrett Shepherd 27-yard TD reception from Cannin Lutz; 2pt conversion good (6:17)

Wlm Byrd  31-28 Gray Matthews 58-yard TD reception from Cannin Lutz; Conner Whitehead PAT (1:35)

Lord Bot    31-31 Dean Webb 25-yard field goal (0:12)

1st OT:

Lord Bot    38-31 Angel Rigney 2-yard TD run; Dean Webb PAT

Wlm Byrd  38-38 Ethan Hastons fumble recovery in the end zone; Conner Whitehead PAT

2nd OT:

Wlm Byrd  46-38 Gray Matthews 10-yard TD run; Cannin Lutz 3-yard 2pt conversion run

Lord Bot    46-44 Seth Reiter 10-yard TD reception from Angel Rigney; 2pt conversion failed

 In the first extra session, the Cavs scored first on a 2-yard bootleg by QB 2 Rigney and Webb added the PAT. But the Terriers responded, when WR/DB 5 Ethan Haston recovered a ball Byrd fumbled into the end zone. K 35 Conner Whitehead added the PAT to send the game to a second overtime. This go round Byrd had the first possession and made quick work when RB 42 Matthews took the handoff and scampered 10 yards in for the score.  QB 9 Lutz ran in the all important 2-pt conversion to put the Terriers up 46-38. 

The Cavaliers also scored on their first play in the second OT. QB 2 Rigney hit WR 11 Seth Reiter for a 10 yard TD catch.  LB went to the air again to try and force a third OT but the 2-pt conversion was incomplete and Byrd hung on for their second straight Region 3D championship. Byrd Coach Brad Lutz was still taking it all in at the end of the game, “A testament to our kids and our program. We had our back up against the wall many times in the game. (This was) two great football teams that have won some big games, just so proud of our players and our coaches.”  The Terriers will now face undefeated LCA of the Seminole District in Lynchburg next Saturday. A rematch from last years state semifinal. – The Machine

	1	2	3	4	OT 1	OT2	Final
William Byrd	0	10	6	15	7	8	46
Lord Bot	6	14	8	3	7	6	44