Blacksburg uses balanced attack to beat the Spartans on the road 40-8
“I’m so proud of how our defense prepared and executed our game plan..” –William Fleming Coach Nick Leftwich
Stephen Ragsdale Field, Pearisburg, VA – The Blacksburg Bruins rolled into Pearisburg with one thing on their mind. Let’s get after it and get thewin. You know you are always in for a physical test when you play a Spartans team. It’s their trademark of sorts. First year Giles Coach Sam Wright expected to have his hands full. Bruins Coach Zack Leonard also has a lot of respect for Giles program. “The single wing is a very tough week one offense.” Blacksburg got cooking early with a 4-yard TD run by RB 7 Mack Strahm. The two point conversion put the Bruins up 8-0.
The Blacksburg defense got into the act next when DB 2 Nathan Means snared a Spartan toss and returned in 23 yards setting up a 9-yard TD pass from QB 6 Sam Szefc (11/14,160,2TD pass; 7yd TD run, 2pt run) to WR/DB 2 Nate Means to make it 15-0.
A few plays later the Bruins defense sparked the offense again when DL 66 Owen Castleberry recovered a fumble. Szefc took it in from 7 yards out from there. Giles DB’s Mason Myers and Will Tickle both carded Interceptions for the Spartans defense to keep the game close, but Blacksburg made their turnovers pay off. RB/DB 24 Jaxon Keys (17/69, TD) recovered a fumble with just under four minutes in the half, and RB/LB 33 Luke Mann took in from the six.
| Varina | WF | |
| First Downs | 10 | 11 |
| Rushing | 21/89, 2TD | 33/139, 2TD |
| Passing | 18/24,264, 4TD | 11/17,70, 2 INT |
| TTL YDS | 353 | 209 |
| Punt | 1/44 | 3/42 |
| Returns | 2/40 | 3/59 |
| Penalties | 14/100 | 5/40 |
| TOs | – | 3 |
| Score | 49 | 14 |
Scoring:
Qtr 1-
Blacksburg: Mack Strahm 4-yard TD run; Strahm 2-point conversion
Qtr 2-
Blacksburg: Nate Means 9-yard TD run; Ethan Loudermilk PAT
Blacksburg: Sam Szefc 7-yard TD run; Szefc 2-point conversion
Qtr 3-
Blacksburg: Luke Mann 6-yard TD run; Szefc 2-point conversion
Giles: Jalen Miller TD run; Miller 2-point conversion
Qtr 4-
Blacksburg: Jaxon Keys 2-yard TD run; Ethan Loudermilk PAT
Blacksburg: Ethan Loudermilk 38-yard fieldgoal
Szefc finished it off with a 2 point conversion and Blacksburg lead was 23-0 at the break. Blacksburg Coach Zack Leonard really likes his quarterback’s potential, Sam’s athleticism gives him a chance to be an incredible football player. He’s fast and can make any throw on the field… just scratching the surface of his playmaking ability.”
Giles got on the board in the third quarter on a RB/LB 42 Jaden Miller score at the 4:17 mark to make it 30-8 following his 2-point run. “I’m so proud of how our defense prepared and executed our game plan. Second year player Brady Ankrum had a huge night leading our defense with 14.5 tackles.”
Key Game Stats:
Blacksburg – Sam Szefc 11/14, 160, 2TDs passing; 7 yard TD run, Jaxon Keys 17/69, TD, Nate Means TD rec, Mack Strahm TD rec, Doug Howard 3/50 rec, Ethan Loudermilk 38-yard Fieldgoal
Giles – Jalen Miller 16/82, TD, 2ptr rushing
Means for the Bruins hauled in a 33 yard TD reception a few minutes later on a toss from Szefc and Keys eventually took it in from the two. Bruin Kicker Ethan Loudermilk would finish off the nights scoring with a 33-yard field goal. Miller finished the game 16/82, TD, 2-pointer rushing for Giles. “Giles played so hard on Friday. Their defense didn’t give us anything easy in the run game.. they found a way to get an extra hat in the box all night, said Leonard. “Without Jaxon (Keys) running as hard as he did, and finishing every run physically, I think this game would have been a lot different. He’s a special player on both sides of the ball.” – Cap’n Crunch
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Blacksburg | 8 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 40 |
| Giles | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
All photos and more available on www.crunchmvp.com