When:  September 21, 1990

Where:  Rural Retreat Stadium

Billboard 100’s #1 Hit: Release Me – Wilson Phillips

The Hype: This game usually doesn’t need any hype but here it is anyway.

It was a time before George Wythe had solidified its roost atop the Hogoheegee District and a time when Rural Retreat’s program had new found glory under head coach Dean Rhea.  Rhea had been in charge of the Indians for just a few years now and the Indians were starting to become routine playoff contenders.

Meanwhile, 1990 was the year George Wythe made the switch from the old New River Valley District to the Hogoheegee District.  The drop from AA to A was not a simple one as the early 90’s was the Hogoheegee’s peak as far as contention and talent on a statewide level.  Most of that was due in part to Lebanon’s terrific runs from 1990-1995, but during that span every Hogoheegee team made a playoff visit except for Castlewood and John Battle.  Castlewood left in 1995 and John Battle didn’t join until 1994.

In 1990, George Wythe was having the single-A blues after an opening loss to Narrows (0-28).  The Maroons turned it around in week two by dusting off the Castlewood Blue Devils by the same score (28-0).  They had an off week to prepare for the neighboring Rural Retreat Indians in their inaugural district meeting and their routine county clash.

Rural Retreat got off to a hot start as usual.  They nipped Auburn in their season opener (14-12) and then plastered Holston 45-7 the following week.  Fort Chiswell posed no threat in week three as the Indians handled them 23-7 in a setup game for their other district rival, George Wythe.

Rural Retreat stadium was packed well before kickoff as Dean Rhea and Larry Russell squared off in this thrilling Hogoheegee District and Wythe County showdown.

On Friday morning, Rural Retreat mayor Doug Humphrey, a gambling man, wagered a ham biscuit at Durham’s Restaurant against Wytheville mayor Trent Crewe’s wager of a Dr. Pepper.  Ah, the good ol’ days.

The Game: With county bragging rights, a jumpstart in the district, a Dr. Pepper, and a ham biscuit on the line, what was not to love about this game?

From the start of things, it looked as though Humphrey was going to be shy a ham biscuit.  The Maroons scored their first touchdown on their first possession with ease.  Fullback John Luttrell smoldered a defender with a jolting block on RC Scott’s 10 yard touchdown run.  And just like that it was 7-0 Maroons.

The Maroons kept the Indians pinned deep in their own territory but the Indians took advantage of every breath of air and made big plays count to hang tough.

“I think we were outmanned,” Rhea said.  “They really rolled over us in the first half.  It took a big effort by our team to stay with them.”

Rural Retreat’s first big break came late in the first half when a pass interference call on a pass to Charlie Wilson at the George Wythe 35 helped out with field position.  Three plays later, slotback, Terry Blessing, burst for a 26 yard run and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Rural Retreat lost ground in the punting battle all night.  This eventually led to George Wythe’s second touchdown on a drive starting at the Indians’ 42 in the third quarter.  The Maroons needed just six plays and Scott, who had 113 yards on 20 carries, raced 20 yards while outwitting defenders to put George Wythe up 13-7.  The kick was wide, 13-7 George Wythe.

George Wythe played keep-away from the Indians for most of the second half and sat on their narrow lead.  With four minutes left in the game Rural Retreat had to punt on fourth-and-11 from its own 15.  The snap got by punter Benny Samonte and he scrambled for daylight.  Frantically, Indian coaches were yelling for Samonte to kick the ball and avoid a huge loss in their own territory and a turnover on downs which would without question lead to another Maroon score and put the game out of question.  However, Samonte had other plans.  While scrambling he found Randall Anders in stride for a 22 yard pass that kept the drive alive.

With momentum on their side, the Indians pressed further into Maroon territory.  Then, the play.

With 1:56 left in the game, Shannon Stuart took the snap at the George Wythe 20 yard line.  Stuart heaved the ball toward the endzone where Charlie Wilson was lurking.  The tying touchdown was hard to believe even for those who saw it.  Wilson was nearly flat on his back in the endzone as the ball sailed, narrowly, between the hands of defender Mark Pruett.

“I was falling on my back and I caught it,” Wilson said.  “It was a heck of a catch.”

The game wasn’t over it yet.  The Indians still had an extra point to kick and there was a long two minutes left on the clock.

Indian coach Dean Rhea called a timeout to help Mike Carrico gather himself for his big kick.  He had one blocked in the first half and was especially nervous about this tie breaker.

The snap, the hold, Carrico marched forward and put a leg under it.  The ball sailed directly toward the left upright and high.

“Yeah, it kind of went a little wide but it counts where it goes through, not where it ends up,” Rhea said.

14-13, Rural Retreat.

With under a minute remaining in the game and George Wythe desperately trying to get some offense going to set up a winning field goal or touchdown, Charlie Wilson came up big again.  This time on defense.

Wilson was in the right place at the right time as a George Wythe pass fell right in his lap. Game.

“The fourth quarter was bizarre,” said GW coach Larry Russell.  “But Rural Retreat played a heck of a ballgame.  Give them the credit.”

“I said all week it was either going to be a blowout for George Wythe or we were gonna win close one.  I told our kids that too,” said Rhea.

Doug Humphrey became a ham biscuit richer.

George Wythe actually went on to finish the regular season 7-3 before exiting in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs at the hands of Lebanon by a touchdown, 34-27.

Rural Retreat, despite going 7-3 themselves, missed out on the post season.

George Wythe  7              0              6              0              -13

Rural Retreat     0              7              0              7              -14

GW – Scott 9 run (Goff kick)
RR – Terry Blessing 26 run (Carrico kick)
GW – Scott 20 run (kick failed)
RR – Wilson 20 pass from Stuart (Carrico kick)

First Downs:       GW 10; RR 11
Rushes- Yards:  GW 43-177; RR 35-114
Passing:                GW 4; RR 53
Comp-Att-Int:   GW 2-10-2; RR 5-12-0
Fumbles-Lost     GW 1-0; RR 3-1
Penalties-Yards GW 12-110; RR 4-25
Punts                    GW 4-31; 6-30

 Original article published by the Bristol Herald Courier 9/22/90, written by Robert Anderson, currently of the Roanoke Times.