Bath soaks RR’s playoff plans

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

The Bath County Chargers stunned the home crowd at Community Stadium with a last minute touchdown to defeat the Rural Retreat Indians 18-12 in the Region C, Division 1 title football game played Friday night.
After trailing for most of the game, the Indians had tied the score at 12-12 after David Harrison scored his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers (8-4) answered with a long drive that later stalled inside the Rural Retreat 10-yard line. Bath County then attempted a field goal that went wide with about two minutes left in the game.
The Indians (8-4) failed to move the ball on their next possession, and the Chargers regained possession after the punt with only 47 seconds left.
That turned out to be enough time as BC quarterback John Barden connected with Jim King on two passes. The first set up first and goal from the RR seven. The second was good for the game-winning touchdown with only 20 seconds remaining.
The Indians tried to rally but the clock ran out before they could make any substantial progress.
Bath County now plays in the Group A, Division 1 state semifinals this Saturday at home against Clintwood.
Rural Retreat’s streak of three consecutive region titles ends.
The Indians looked like they were on their way to a successful game when they scored on the opening possession on a 59-yard sprint by Harrison before the game was even a minute old at the 11:06 mark.
But the Chargers quickly served notice that they were not going to let it be easy for the Indians.
BC began its opening possession in its own territory but quickly moved past midfield with some runs and a long pass play to King to move down near the RR 20.
The drive was capped off several plays later on a 14-yard pass from Barden to King. The PAT kick failed, but the game was tied at 6-6 with 7:05 left in the first quarter.
Rural Retreat’s second possession was ended abruptly on a fumble, and the Chargers took over at the Indian 27.
Barden completed two more passes to King, the second one a nine-yard scoring aerial, to put Bath County on top 12-6 after the PAT kick failed with 5:04 left in the first quarter.
Neither team threatened over the rest of the first half or most of the third quarter.
The Indians then put together their best sustained drive of the night late in the third quarter beginning on their own 29. Mostly behind the running of Harrison and a good first down carry by quarterback Justin Stoneman, RR found itself inside the BC 20 as the third quarter expired.
Rural Retreat maintained possession over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter and finally crossed the goal line on a one-yard plunge by Harrison with 9:03 left in the game. The PAT kick missed, but the game was tied at 12-12.
The Chargers also put together a good drive that stalled at the RR eight-yard line. A field goal attempt missed the mark, however, and the Indians took over with only 1:58 remaining.
The Indians failed to pick up a first down and punted back to Bath. The Chargers took over with only 47 seconds left, but it was enough for them to engineer the winning touchdown with only 20 seconds left.

Bath County 12 0 0 6 – 18
Rural Retreat 6 0 0 6 – 12

Scoring:
RR – Harrison 59 run (kick failed)
BC – Brown 14 pass from Barden (kick failed)
BC – King 9 pass from Barden (kick failed)
RR – Harrison 1 run (kick failed)
BC – King 7 pass from Barden (pass failed)

Stats BC RR
First downs 17 10
Yards rushing 120 211
Yards passing 152 2
Comp-Att-Int 12-19-0 2-6-0
Penalties-yds 3-15 2-20
Fumbles-lost 1-0 5-1
Punts-Avg 3-25 4-20
(T – 2:02)