Stuck in the mud - Buffaloes fail to stop Pioneers’ running game

by Roger Mannon

Floyd County High School’s varsity football team suffered its third loss in a row as Fort Chiswell spoiled a rainy Homecoming at Floyd Friday with a 24-12 win over the Buffaloes. The defeat dropped the season record to 1-4.
The Pioneers took the opening kickoff and got two first downs to the Floyd 40. A third down sack by Chase Vaughn forced a punt, and Floyd took possession at the 18.
The Buffaloes had a three and out and were forced to punt. Cole Peters’ punt was blocked, and Fort Chiswell took over at the 13.
The Floyd defense made key stops on third and fourth down, and the Buffs got the ball on downs at the 5. On the first play, Nick Romans tackled Matt Hollandsworth in the end zone for a safety to put the Pioneers up 2-0 at 4:36.
Chris Rodriguez carried eight times on the next Fort Chiswell drive and scored on a one yard run. Rodriguez was stopped on the PAT run, and the Pioneers led 8-0 with 13 seconds left in the first.
The Buffs were stopped on the next possession and punted early in the second quarter. Peters’ 52-yard punt stuck Fort Chiswell at the 16.
The Pioneers got one first down and then punted to Floyd. The Buffs were again held without a first down and punted back to Fort Chiswell.
The Buffalo defense allowed one yard on the possession, and Floyd forced another punt. This time Daniel Bradford returned the kick 40 yards to the Pioneer 23.
On second and ten, Dorian Harris ran for 11 yards and a face mask penalty, followed by unsportsmanlike conduct, moved the ball to the three. Two plays later, Harris scored a touchdown on a four yard run.
The PAT failed, and Floyd trailed 8-6 at 3:47. Hollandsworth suffered a broken collarbone and did not return to the game.
The Buffs stopped Fort Chiswell on the next possession and got the punt at the 22. But two plays later, Caz Cantrell fumbled and the Pioneers got the ball at the Floyd 20 at 1:11.
In the final minute of the half, Will Freeman fumbled and Bradford scooped up the ball and ran 75 yards to the end zone. But a blocking penalty erased the score and gave Floyd the ball at the 44. The Buffs ran two plays without scoring before the clock ran out.
Bradford returned the second half kick to the 50. But a fumble gave the ball to the Pioneers at midfield.
Rodriguez and Hody Viars each had 14 yard runs to set up a 19 yard touchdown carry by Rodriguez. Rodriguez kicked the PAT and Fort Chiswell led 15-6 at 9:29.
Brandon Harris returned the next kick to the 43 and the Buffs picked up one first down on the drive before losing a fumble at the 41. On the next play, Joey Conduff recovered a fumble at the 37 to get the Buffaloes back in the game.
Cantrell hit Keifer Titus with a nine yard pass and D. Harris had a nine yard run. On the next play, D. Harris ran 17 yards for the touchdown. The PAT failed and Floyd trailed 15-12 at 6:22.
On the Pioneers’ next possession, Rodriguez had runs of 16 and 23 and Fort Chiswell got to the Floyd six, where Bradford recovered a fumble. The Buffs ran two plays before the Pioneers got the ball back on a fumble at the nine.
The Buffaloes got the ball back on downs at the one early in the fourth. A Floyd fumble was recovered by Peters, who was tackled in the end zone for another safety. Fort Chiswell led 17-12 at 10:47.
Zack Cook returned the free kick to the Floyd 23, but the Buffs recovered another fumble at the 25. Floyd had three straight losses, included a pair of fumbles that left the Buffs with fourth and 34 at the one.
The Pioneers got great field position on the punt from the end zone, starting at the Floyd 32. Two plays later Rodriguez ran 29 yards for his third touchdown. Rodriguez’ kick made it 24-12 at 7:44.
The Buffs recovered a squib kick at the 43 but had a three and out. Rodriguez led another long drive, but Peters recovered a fumble and a personal foul moved the ball to the Fort Chiswell 37. Floyd got one first down on a pair of offsides penalties, but gave the ball up on downs with 32 seconds left in the game.
Rushing: Hollandsworth 3 (-11), D. Harris 16-53 2 td, B. Harris 4-3, Cantrell 7-(-19) Passing: Hollandsworth 1-2 6 yards, Cantrell 3-9 24 yards Receiving: Titus 3-16, Cantrell 1-11 Punts: Peters 5-218 yards (43.3) Kick returns: Coartney 1-14, Bradford 1-38, B. Harris 1-22 Punt returns: D. Harris 2-7, Bradford 1-40
Tackles: Titus 2-0, Hollandsworth 2-0, Baker 1-0, M. Harris 3-1, Cantrell 3-0, Coartney 3-3, Link 2-3, Bradford 8-6, B. Harris 9-3, Yates 3-0, Conduff 3-4, Whitlock 7-3, Vaughn 7-7, J. Link 1-1, Peters 2-2 For loss: Titus 1-1, Bradford 2-6, B. Harris 1-1, Conduff 1-1, Whitlock 1-1, Vaughn 2-13 Fumble recovery: Bradford, Conduff, Vaughn deflection: Bradford