The speed limit on Interstate 81 around the Smyth County area was recently raised. A couple of kids residing off Exit 35 have shown no hint of slowing down.

Chilhowie High School’s backfield duo of Aaron Conley and Brett Johnson combined for 171 rushing yards and four touchdowns as the Warriors claimed a 28-14 win over Fort Chiswell on Friday night in the Region C, Division 2 semifinals.

Chilhowie (9-2) will play at Radford (8-3) next Friday night in the regional title game.

A stout defensive effort and the one-two punch of Conley and Johnson provided the Warriors with their latest win.

Conley finished with 111 yards and scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on runs of 3 and 4 yards to clinch the victory. Not bad for a guy who’s been nursing a leg injury and missed the regular-season finale against Rural Retreat.

He looked refreshed — and fast — against the Pioneers.

Earl Neikirk, Bristol Herald Courier
Rhett Sturgill, Chilhowie

"I was ready to play," Conley said. "I wanted to go out there and run somebody over."

Johnson added 60 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, raising his season total to 32 scores. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Johnson and 5-foot-9, 165-pound Conley have formed a formidable one-two punch.

"There’s no one on the face of this earth I’d rather run beside or block for," Conley said.

Earl Neikirk, Bristol Herald Courier
Brett Johnson, Chilhowie

While Johnson and Conley were able to polish off the victory in the second half, the first half was anything but smooth for the Warriors.

Fort Chiswell led 7-6 at halftime, despite having three turnovers and 50 yards worth of penalties. Chilhowie failed to get anything going offensively.

Earl Neikirk, Bristol Herald Courier
Brett Johnson, Chilhowie

"We kind of shot ourselves in the foot in the first half and missed some opportunities," said Fort Chiswell coach Stephen James. "The second half, they did what they needed to do. They made some plays, converted some third downs.

"We gave ourselves a chance. ... They played a good ballgame. I’m proud of our kids. Chilhowie has a great football team."

The Chilhowie defense limited Fort Chiswell star running back Johnse Hatfield to 65 rushing yards. Rhett Sturgill recorded two of the three interceptions thrown by FC quarterback Will Freeman, while Levi Gillespie finished with a team-high 13 tackles.

"Johnse’s a good running back," Gillespie said. "He’s strong and an up the middle back, but I think we shut him down because of the new defenses that we put in."

Earl Neikirk, Bristol Herald Courier
Johnse Hatfield, Fort Chiswell

Johnson’s 15-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter put Chilhowie ahead for good. And after Fort Chiswell (9-3) cut the lead to 20-14 midway through the final quarter, Conley clinched it with his final touchdown run.

"We’ve kind of started out slow a lot this season," Conley said. "Our defense kept us in it the whole time. We went in at halftime and our offense was determined that we were going to come out here, take the lead and not look back."

That mentality put Chilhowie head coach Larry Russell’s team in the regional finals.

"I can’t describe it. It’s unbelievable," Gillespie said. "The only thing that would be better is state. … We’re just taking it a step at a time."