Chilhowie finished with more total yardage. The Warriors controlled the clock. The defensive effort was strong.

All those things still didn’t add up to a victory.

Brett Johnson persues Radford's Kevin Atkins
Photo by Eric Brady

Radford received two touchdown runs from quarterback Dontae Carter and an efficient effort from its defense in claiming a 14-6 win over Chilhowie on Friday night in the Region C, Division 2 championship game.

The Bobcats (9-3) repeated as Region C champs and will host either Gate City or Honaker next Saturday in the VHSL Group A, Division 2 semifinals.

Chilhowie finished with 218 yards of total offense compared to 165 for Radford. However, the Warriors (9-3) couldn’t capitalize against Radford’s defensive unit.

With its players rarely out of position, Radford relied on textbook tackling and speed to snuff out any drives Chilhowie mounted. The Bobcats have allowed just six points in two playoff games and are beginning to shed that label of being a finesse squad.

“I think that goes back to practice and preparation,” said Radford coach Matthew Saunders. “I think that everybody’s telling us we can’t play defense. I think it kind of ticks us off.”

Chilhowie coach Larry Russell left the field impressed.

“They played good position football,” Russell said. “We shot ourselves in the leg in the first half with penalties and things.”

The key moment came near the end of the second quarter after Chilhowie fumbled deep its own territory. Carter scored three plays later on a 6-yard run to put Radford on the board with 2:43 remaining.

Despite just 77 yards of total offense in the first half, the Bobcats went into the locker room with a 7-0 halftime edge.

Carter added a 9-yard TD run in the third quarter to pad the lead, capping a drive that started after the Bobcats gained excellent field position on a poor punt. Chilhowie limited Radford’s dynamic playmaker to 20 rushing yards and just two yards through the air.

However, he did find the end zone twice.

“I thought they took some things away from us and the wind might have been a factor a bit,” Saunders said. “We didn’t throw as much, but Dontae’s going to get what Dontae can get.”

Chilhowie did avert getting blanked when Brett Johnson hauled in a 3-yard scoring strike from Rhett Sturgill with 12 seconds remaining.

It was the 33rd – and final – touchdown of the season for Johnson, who finished with 54 yards on 21 carries and 39 receiving yards Friday night. He had to fight for all of those.

“He’s a tough player,” Radford defensive lineman Alan O’Berry said of Johnson. “He runs pretty hard.”

Johnson was clearly upset after the loss.

“It’s disappointing,” he said.

That was the sentiment of most of Chilhowie’s players and coaches as they slowly trudged off the field.

“The defense played well. They played a good ballgame,” Russell said. “We just couldn’t get in the end zone enough. That’s the way it goes, but the kids played hard and I’m very proud of them.”

As for the Bobcats, the squad with the impressive D awaits the winner of Region D.

“We just strive for [allowing] zero points every game,” O’Berry said. “At the end they scored, but we played a great defensive game.”

Chilhowie                       0                      0                      0                      6–6

Radford   0                      7                      7                      0–14

Scoring Summary

R—Carter 6 run (Findley kick)

R—Carter 9 run (Findley kick)

C—B. Johnson 3 pass from Rh. Sturgill (run failed)

Team Stats

First Downs: C 10, R 7; Rushes-Yards: C 47-123, R 33-163; Passing Yards: C 95, R 2; Comp.-Att.-Int: C 8-10-0, R 2-11-1; Fumbles-Lost: C 1-1, R 1-1; Penalties-Yards: C 6-30, R 7-55.