Teams have overtime history

The theme for this week’s regional playoff game between George Wythe and Floyd County could be “remember the heartbreak.” The only question is which team has a better claim to that storyline.
“There’ve been a lot of heartbreak games for both teams in this series,” said Floyd coach Winfred Beale. “There certainly have.”
The most recent was this season’s September game in Wytheville. The Buffaloes got a field goal in the last two minutes to tie the game, and then blocked the Maroons’ game winning field goal attempt in the last seconds to force overtime.
Wythe scored on its first overtime possession to take a seven-point lead. Floyd answered the touchdown, and then won the game 40-39 by getting a two-point PAT on a pass off a kick formation.
The 2007 game between the teams, played at Floyd, also was decided in overtime. The Buffaloes blocked a punt with three minutes left in the game and scored to force overtime.
Floyd had a touchdown erased by penalty, with Wythe scoring to take the win.
The games previous to that came in the Region C playoffs. In 2002, Floyd posted its first 10-0 season in school history.
The Buffaloes beat Lebanon in the regional semifinals and met Wythe for the championship. Floyd seemed destined for a trip to the state, as the Buffaloes led 16-0 in the first half and had the ball inside the Wythe 10.
But the Maroons stopped the drive with a fumble recovery and scored on a long pass to cut the lead to 16-8. Blustery winds played havoc with the Floyd passing game, and the Maroons went with a goal line defense all over the field to shut down the running game.
Wythe won the game 20-16, ending the best season ever for Floyd. The Maroons went on to win the state championship.
The teams met in the 1999 Region C final. Although Wythe had set a school scoring record that year, the Buffaloes won 28-6 to advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time.
The highlight of that game was The Greatest Goal Line Stand of All Time. Floyd led 14-6 in the third quarter when Wythe got a first and goal at the one.
The Maroons ran eight plays and did not score (a pass interference penalty on fourth down gave Wythe a new set of downs.) Floyd advanced to the state semifinals, where they beat a Honaker team led by future UVA and Pittsburgh Steeler star Heath Miller. The Buffs lost in the state finals to Madison County.
If George Wythe has any advantage or motivation, it is that the Maroons have survived multiple heartbreaks this year. In addition to the Floyd game, which left Wythe players lying on the field in stunned disbelief, the team also suffered tough losses to Tazewell, Radford and Giles in an 0-4 start.
The Maroons bounced back to win their last six games and make the playoffs as Hogoheegee District champions. Wythe also got a bye week after its win over Chilhowie.
Wythe has improved since the September meeting. Floyd has also improved, with Chandler Jones and Jacob Nolen returning to action.
When the Buffaloes and Maroons met eight weeks ago, the teams featured the 1-2 passers in Region C and Timesland. Wythe’s Jacob Sharitz has gone on to post the best passing numbers, while Luke Harris of Floyd has balanced his offensive resume with some outstanding rushing performances, like the 255 yard, four-touchdown effort against Giles.
Sharitz has the number one pass catcher in the region in Brandon Atwell. The Maroons also have a good kicking game.
These offenses could combine for another 70 point outing. At the end of the game, one team will probably feel what CBS announcer Gus Johnson calls Heart! Break! City!