 DAMASCUS, Va. -- Two high school football teams seemingly headed in different directions met Friday night, and the up-and-comer took an important step by beating a program hardly used to losing.
John Battle used big plays offensively and played outstanding defense to improve to 2-1 on the season, collecting a 19-6 non-district victory over winless Holston.
Trojan head coach Ryan Witten said it was important to defeat the two-time defending Region C champion Cavaliers, who were decimated by graduation this past June.
"After the catastrophe we had [a 42-7 loss] against Virginia High last week, it was important for us to win this thing tonight," Witten said. "We came right out and got after them in the first half and played well."
The Trojans had their way with Holston over the first 30 minutes, hitting on three long touchdowns to take their 19-6 advantage into halftime.
After failing to score on a 61-yard opening drive, Battle took a 6-0 lead with 3:36 left in the first quarter when quarterback Josh Blackburn hit a streaking Brent Tipton for a 79-yard touchdown pass.
Blackburn would go on to complete 10 of 18 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, the second a 28 yarder to Cody Rogers on the final play of the first half.
"Those two [sophomores] are really good receivers," Blackburn said. "But it all starts up front with my offensive line giving me the protection.’’
The Rogers touchdown occurred one play after Derrian Burton recovered a fumble when the home team coughed up the ball on a punt return.
"I saw some progress out there," said Holston coach Jason Matlock, whose youthful team returned just two offensive starters from last year’s 11-2 state semifinalists. "Basically three plays killed us tonight."
In between Blackburn’s two TD passes, understudy Ty King turned in a dazzling 44-yard touchdown run on an option keeper to up Battle’s lead to 12-0 early in the second quarter.
"Ty didn’t play football last year," said Witten. "So he’s just now coming around, but he can run it and he’s learning. He’s an athlete." |
