It was something straight out of Shawshank Redemption, with Buckingham County senior Dyshawn Perkins even appropriately throwing his hands up to the sky and laughing. The game was mostly put away with just a few minutes left in the fourth, on a night that was completely clear and dry up until that point. Buckingham was up, and comfortably. And then the skies just opened up like a faucet and it suddenly started pouring rain. On the sidelines, the feeling sunk in. Out in the stands, the fans cheered and laughed too — and then cleared quickly for cover. It was a strange moment, one that seemed as though the Knights were simply destined to finally beat their sworn nemesis, and at home no less.
“I told these boys — and they’ve been together since second and third grade — let’s come out here tonight and make a memory,” said Buckingham coach Craig Gill. “I love the people of Buckingham County, and I’m so proud that we gave them something to talk about when they go to work on Monday.”
And then in the middle of the deluge, Goochland recovered a fumble, with Cordell Mattox coming up with the scoop and score to make it a two-possesion game again. And just like that Buckingham was given one last cruel reminder of truly how hard it is to beat the Bulldogs. In recent years the Knights have lost on a failed 2-point conversion, in overtime, in the playoffs, in just about every which way in a heartbreaking fashion. Not this Friday. Not for this senior class. That fumble recovery certainly made the score closer, but at the end of the day, Buckingham County played the most physical football its has since its deep playoff run back in 2013. Behind one long drive after another, and a defensive front that brought Goochland’s run game to a halt, the Knights simply poured it on the Bulldogs to pick up their first win over their rival since 2004 with a 35-21 victory.
“Both sides of the ball carried out the game plan,” Gill said. “We knew if we could stop the run we could turn them into a passing team, but I never thought we’d be able to move the ball the way we did against a good like them. I’m so proud of the offensive line. These young men — it’s easy to talk about the (rushers) but this game was won up front. And everyone knows Goochland’s got such a great program and I’ve got so much respect for their coach, Joe Fowler. This was a big win.”
Indeed the story all night was the play up front. On defense, first team All-Group 2A lineman Michael Mabry and his teammates forced once Goochland punt after another in the first half as they swarmed the Bulldogs vaunted rushing attack. And after an opening three and out, the Knights offense simply picked up the tone the defense set.
“Our defensive line played so well all night, our offensive line played great and our backs ran well,” Gill said. “It was a total team effort.”
It took 15 plays for Buckingham to score on its opening drive. By the end of it, a 2-yard keeper by quarterback BJ Gough, the first quarter was nearly over. When the Knights were pinned on a punt at their own 5-yard line on the next drive, senior running back Leon Ragland got to work with a 26-yard run setting up a 1-yard touchdown.
“To dominate the line of scrimmage, it just felt great,” Perkins said. “We haven’t beat Goochland in a long time, it means so much. Since we lost to them last year, we practiced everyday for this game against them. This win means everything. But it is just a win this season and we want more than that.”
Goochland was held to under 100 yards rushing on the night, but a 61-yard touchdown run from Calvin Martin ensued shortly after to make it 14-7 mid-second quarter, and suddenly made it a game again.
Buckingham responded quickly, this time with Ragland scoring on a 25-yard run to give the Knights the lead going into the break at 21-7.
“They knew where they had an advantage on us and they took it and they played great,” said Goochland’s Fowler. “I think we got out of this game in one piece and that’s really the upside of it. We didn’t play the way we wanted offensively or defensively, but at the same time, they were physical and Leon Ragland is an unbelievable football player. I don’t know how many carries and how many yards he had but it seemed like a million of each.”
Out of the break, the Knights took the opening kick off and once again methodically marched down the field with its offensive line dominating the game. This time Ragland scored from 21-yards out and the lead was suddenly 21-points midway through the third quarter.
“The line dominated from start to finish and that’s all there is to say,” Ragland said.
The Bulldogs shifted their approach in the second half from the run to the air. Quarterback Reid Chenault was able to hit Mattox for a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14 late in the third.
It was there on the sidelines that a crouched Gill turned around to Perkins and the line on the bench and told them he needed one more drive. With the Knights pinned at their own 8-yard line, the call was answered. Ragland ripped off a 59-yard run and then capped the drive on a 3-yard touchdown shortly after to put the game out of reach at 35-14.
While Goochland picked up the late defensive score in the sudden rain, the damage was done and the Knights were able to hold on for the coveted win.
“This was all about preparation,” said Mabry. “All our coaches, they got us ready. This week in practice was great. We had it all covered. Even with the passing, we had a plan. This win is a shocker for a lot of people across the state.”
Ragland led all rushers with his 331 yards on 31 carries and four TDs. Gough had 101 yards on 26 carries and his early touchdown.
“We just have to stay hyped,” Ragland said. “We’ve got to keep preparing and move on.”
For Goochland, Chenault was 9-for-15 passing with 108 yards and a TD. Martin led the Bulldogs rushing with five carries for 73 yards. Mattox led the receiving corps with 59 yards and a touchdown.
“This game taught us a lot,” Fowler said. “We’ve lost three games to three teams that aren’t (lined up against us) to make a trip to Salem (for the state final four). We want to earn the right to maybe play this Buckingham team again under the bright lights there in Salem.”
Goochland (3-3, 2-1 JRD) snapped its 3-game winning streak but will host Nottoway next Friday. Buckingham (5-1, 3-0) travels to Bluestone on Monday for a makeup from the rained out October 1st contest.
