As often as Blue Ridge coach Orlando Patterson says it on the sideline to quarterbacks Tristan Allen and Jimmy Connor, ‘just throw it up!’ has nearly become a rallying cry for the Barons.
“When we have those dual threats (P.J. White and Leon Straus) out there we have to,” Patterson said. “We have to throw it immediately.”
At times, the Barons’ quarterbacks have been reluctant to put it in the air as they continue to develop a rapport with a largely new cast. Or they just haven’t had time to pull it off.
With a minute to play against St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes and trailing by three points though, Tristan Allen didn’t hesitate for a second.
“I have the fullest faith in P.J. as a teammate,” Allen said. “I knew if I threw it up he’d go get it. He’s made a few of those this year.”
Allen hit White three times for 38, 7 and 10 yards to complete a frantic drive with just under a minute to play and boost the Barons to a 30-26 victory over SSSA, the state’s top-ranked squad in Division 1. The 38-yarder kickstarted the drive, but it took a near-miraculous catch by White, the tall threat who’s had an impact as a returner, defensive back and wideout for the Barons this season. White pulled in the ball with his fingertips, catching the back of the ball as it nearly sailed past him.
“He was pressing me inside and it was a read play,” White said. “I trust my quarterback and I trust my line and we pulled it off.”
After catching a crossing pattern for another chunk of yardage, Patterson called a timeout. The Barons went right back to White with Allen lofting the ball toward the back corner of the endzone where White leapt and hauled it in for the score, shaking off a defensive pass interference on the play to come up with the ball.
The Barons’ defense then stood the test, surrendering two first downs before a banged up Shawn Steen tracked down an underthrown ball for an interception as time expired and knelt down near the SSSA sideline.
Steen and Mujahid Fricke were among several Blue Ridge players who gutted through minor injuries or severe leg cramps in what essentially became a war of attrition between two small rosters playing lots of athletes both ways.
“We’re tough, we’re not going to give up no matter what happens,” Allen said. “We’re just here to play.”
The Barons built a 16-13 halftime lead with Cody Pegram turning a simple dive into a 42-yard touchdown on the opening drive and Steen breaking loose on a toss sweep for another score. A safety on an ill-timed snap by the Saints that tumbled out the back of the endzone rounded out the scoring for the Barons before the break.
Blue Ridge appeared set to take control too when Jared Arntzen walked into the endzone for a touchdown early in the third quarter after a fumble recovery by the Barons on the opening kickoff. But St. Stephen’s refused to go away.
With a heavy dose (37 carries) of running back Daniel Manora, the Saints took the lead with 10:12 to play, pushing ahead 26-23. Manora rushed for 175 yards on the day, the bulk of it on zone-style runs or sweeps to the outside where his speed and power took over.
“He’s a very, very good back,” Patterson said. “We had to make sure we wrapped up.”
But after a series of back-to-back turnovers and a couple of failed drives, the Barons got the ball with a little more than a minute to play and turned it over to P.J. White during the game-winning drive.
“We’re a team that can do big things,” Patterson said. “We have a few contests we still have to prepare for that can be tough. It’s week by week.”
