By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
GOOCHLAND – Goochland’s explosive offense shined for much of Friday’s contest against James River District foe Buckingham. However, a defensive play in overtime stole the show as the Bulldogs held on for the 28-27 victory in thrilling fashion.
Goochland took two plays to reach the end zone in the extra period, as Jordan Jefferson ran in from nine yards out to give the home team the lead. With the point after attempt by Raleigh Marria, the Bulldogs held a 28-21 advantage.
Buckingham answered, as Kyree Koonce rushed for his third touchdown of the night to pull the visitors within one. After a penalty on Goochland put the ball inside the two yard line, the Knights elected to go for two. On the conversion, Kenneth Johnson ran into a host of Goochland players at the goal line and the Bulldogs began their celebration.
“These kids have ice water in their veins,” Goochland coach Joe Fowler said. “Early in the season when our backs were up against the wall, we didn’t make the plays when we needed to – in the Monticello and FUMA games. I said then that in week 9 or 10 we were going to be a whole lot different team than we were in weeks 1, 2 and 3. And we are.”
With the victory, Goochland, which has reeled off six straight wins, secured the district title.
Trailing 21-14, the Bulldogs put together an impressive 19-play drive, straight out of what’s become Fowler’s blueprint for success, in the fourth quarter.
With just over a minute to play and Goochland facing fourth-and-15, Fowler inserted freshman quarterback Reid Chenault into the game for the first time. After a quick timeout, Chenault connected with Nathan Adams for a 21-yard completion as the Bulldogs converted one of four fourth downs on the drive. Mitchell Brice gained seven yards on the next play and Chenault took to the air again, hooking up with Trace Nixon for a 16-yard gain. Brice capped the drive with a five-yard TD run and Marria’s PAT tied the game at 21-21 with 32 seconds remaining.
“I’ve gotta say, I was very very very nervous,” Chenault said. “But they called the timeout and my teammates definitely settled me down.”
Added Fowler: “It was gutsy, but we didn’t feel like we had much of a choice, we felt like we had to take a chance and I had faith in the kids, had faith that they’d get it.”
Buckingham (7-2, 4-2 JRD) used a potent ground game to break a tie game in the third quarter. Koonce, who led all ball carriers with 196 yards on 18 carries, scampered 27 yards for the score to give the Knights the 13-7 lead.
Goochland answered with a touchdown from David Dyer (5 yards) to regain the lead at 14-13, but the visitors scored on their next possession to take control again. Johnson (17 carries, 53 yards) punched it in from one yard out and the Knights made the two-point conversion, but that would be their final lead of the game.
“It was a great game, the boys prepared so well this week,” Buckingham veteran coach Craig Gill said. “We came here to win and the ball being on the 1 1/2 , we thought we could get that and the kicker told me he was a little bit shaky so we said let’s go for the win. We’ve had two the last two years that have been great games with [Goochland] and our kids play so hard. We just came up a little short tonight.”
In addition to the offensive highlights from Koonce and Johnson, Tariq Bartee came up big for the Knights on defense with 17 total tackles.
Goochland (7-2, 6-0) amassed 264 rushing yards in the win, led by Jefferson’s 120-yard, two-touchdown performance. Dyer added 43 yards on 12 carries and Brice finished with 85 yards on 15 attempts.
Buckingham plays host to Bluestone on Friday while Goochland wraps up its regular season at Amelia.
