Bulldogs topple Carroll County
Tazewell (27) vs. Carroll County (26)
Written: Oct 22, 2012
By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
TAZEWELL, Va. — How Bout ‘Em Dogs!
It may have been freshman Derik Wallace’s fumble recovery with only 2:33 to play. It could have been injured sophomore Malik Davis’s cheering. It may well have been the incredible 185-yard, four-touchdown performance by junior Jacob McReynolds.
It was aided by four key passes and catches from seniors Cody McCann and Jalen Jordan.
It was capped by jubilation from hundreds of fans, cheerleaders, band members, and rooters who have refused to give up on the gritty football team that always says “thanks” to the fans before entering the locker room after games each week.
In the end, two years of frustration were finally overcome as Tazewell (1-7, 1-2) won a heart-pounding 27-26 Southwest District victory over Carroll County (1-7, 0-3) Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
McReynolds scored all 27 points for Tazewell on four touchdown runs and three extra point kicks in one of the greatest efforts in recent Bulldog memory.
Trailing 20-6 with 7:05 remaining in the third stanza, the Bulldogs began a turnaround that smashed their 18-game winless streak into the cool, moist Witten Field turf.
“I give God the credit first, and then my offensive line, fullbacks Guye Turner and Carter Rasnick for key blocks, great play all night by the offensive line, and especially the play calling by the coaches,” grinned an exhausted McReynolds, who was almost knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury before returning to power his team to victory since an October 2010 triumph at Marion.
Carroll County quarterback Connor Lundy, who appeared to have a crucial first down before losing the ball that Wallace pounced on, led the Cavaliers with 178 yards passing, including a dazzling 69-yard touchdown pass to Kody Alley, and a six-yard scoring toss to Taylor Case.
Alley also recovered a fumble that led to a score for the Cavaliers, who lost to the Bulldogs for the first time in four years.
The architect of Tazewell’s triumph, first year head coach Shane Allen, knew very well every player on the field.
It was Allen, the fourth head coach in four years at THS, who left his post as Cavalier defensive coordinator after directing a shutout win against the same Dogs last season, who celebrated his first triumph as field boss in a happy locker room.
“This team has played its heart out all year. The coaches have coached their behinds off. These fans have been on our side 100 percent — the entire community has stayed with us.
“We could easily have quit tonight down by 14 in the second half but we kept battling. I am not much of an ‘I’ man but we got out of the Wing T because that running game with the blocking and McReynolds carrying just would not be stopped. You go with what works!
“All these people inside the locker room and outside waiting for us, all the Tazewell Bulldogs deserve this.”
Tazewell took its first lead during regulation play (THS led once in overtime earlier at Lebanon) when McReynolds gained all 65 yards of a nine-play drive, scoring on a four-yard burs with 6:12 left in the opening stanza.
Weary-legged, he barely missed the PAT attempt leaving THS ahead 6-0.
Carroll County answered when Alley rumbled 40 yards for a touchdown with 3:32 to play in the period. In a crucial effort, the Dogs’ Carter Rasnick picked off Lundy’s two-point pass try to preserve the tie and that single point would later prove pivotal.
Alley recovered a Bulldog bobble and Patrick Davis ran 7 yards for the next Cavalier touchdown as CCHS moved ahead 14-6 when Chris Smoot caught a two-point PAT from Lundy at the 7:03 mark of the second stanza.
It was Lundy to Alley for 69 yards and another score on the pass to Case before the extra point run failed that pushed Carroll in front 20-6.
Then the tide turned briefly.
McReynolds capped a 7-play, 69 yard drive with a three-yard score and then drilled the extra point as Tazewell moved to within seven points.
Lundy fired a strike to Alley who caught the 69-yard scoring aerial in dramatic fashion to push the Cavaliers in front 26-13 as Carroll County reasserted its authority.
McCann, back in action after a concussion suffered two weeks ago, went to his favorite target Jordan to fire the Dogs up again. He lofted a 34-yard completion to Jordan, who leaped over a defender and pulled in a pass over his left shoulder to give THS a first down at the Cavalier 36.
On the next play, it was McCann to Jordan again — this time for 32 yards and a first-and-goal at the Carroll four. Two plays later, McReynolds found paydirt from two yards away and turned right around to kick the extra point.
It was 26-20 with 1:58 left in the third period after the Dogs had marched 80 yards in five plays, with 66 coming through the air.
With McReynolds eating up yardage on the ground the air attack once again was a key element in the winning score. Jordan was in pursuit of a catch inside the five, drew an interference call, and set up a first-and-goal at the 8-yard stripe with under seven minutes left.
Two plays later, McReynolds powered into the end zone. He kicked the point after, and Tazewell led 27-26 with 6:22 left.
Wallace recovered the key fumble moments later, the Cavaliers were assessed a critical facemask penalty in the closing minute and the Dogs were able to run out the clock as the deliriously happy THS fans stormed the field.
“I just saw the ball pop loose and I went for it. I had to get that ball so we could have a chance to win. This is awesome,” said the freshman Wallace, pressed into service following a rash of recent injuries.
Tazewell was aided by fumble recoveries by Nick Goad, key plays by Rasnick, Turner, Mikey Wright, Nick Blankenship, and new center Brandon Asbury, among others.
Carroll’s Ethan Underwood had a fumble recovery.
Tazewell led 293-280 in total yards, 15-8 in first downs, 186-102 in rushing, and Carroll topped the passing yards 178-107.
The Bulldogs host Abingdon on Oct. 26 at Bulldog Stadium in an SWD contest.
At Bulldog Stadium/Witten Field
Carroll County..........6 8 12 0 — 26
Tazewell..................6 0 14 7 — 27
First Quarter
T – McReynolds 4 run (kick failed) 6:12
C – Alley 40 run (pass intercepted) 3:32
Second Quarter
C – Davis 7 run (Smoot conversion from Lundy) 7:03
Third Quarter
C – Case 6 pass from Lundy (run failed)
T- McReynolds 3 run (McReynolds kick) 3:59
C – Alley 69 pass from Lundy (kick failed) 3:37
T – McReynolds 2 run (McReynolds kick) 1:58
Fourth Quarter
T- McReynolds 4 run (McReynolds kick) 6:22
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