Ft. Chiswell shuts down Grundy
Grundy (3) vs. Fort Chiswell (44)
Written: Nov 12, 2012
By LLOYD COMBS
for the Daily Telegraph
MAX MEADOWS, Va. — In a twist on a culinary theme, it was hold the Hamm and pass the Mabry for Fort Chiswell.
Quarterback Brett Mabry threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Pioneers feasted on the Grundy defense for a 44-3 win over the Golden Wave in the first round of the Group A, Division 2 Western Section playoffs Friday night.
Grundy (4-7) expected to have a difficult time containing Fort Chiswell running back Daniel Hamm and he did set the tone with a 24-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage, but the senior tailback only carried the ball six more times the rest of the game.
It was the mobile Mabry who did most of the damage. Mabry completed 9-of-12 passes for 234 yards, including three long touchdown passes to wide out Levi Mooney. Hamm added a 7-yard TD run and finished with 68 yards rushing.
“We knew Hamm was going to be a handful,” Grundy coach Jeremy Ward said. “We also knew (Mabry) liked to get on the edge and get going and he did.
“They threw a little more than we were probably expecting, but our coverage broke down a few times, too.”
Mabry had a 40-yard TD run on the second play of the game and threw for 179 yards in the first half alone, when the Pioneers (10-1) gained 321 yards on just 19 plays.
The Mabry-to-Mooney connection resulted in a 61-yard scoring strike in the first quarter, a 49-yarder in the second and a 31-yarder in the third.
While Fort Chiswell averaged 12.7 yards in amassing 506 yards of total offense Grundy managed just 72 yards overall, including 43 yards on the ground against a Pioneer defense led by 6-foot-6, 295-pound Coleman Thomas and 275-pound Greg Pistory.
A Division 1 prospect, Thomas is the son of former Richlands assistant coach and former Patrick Henry coach Richie Thomas.
“Even when we got our two interceptions we couldn’t do anything (offensively),” Ward added. “(Fort Chiswell is) big and agile inside. We had trouble moving the ball and stopping them.”
Brady McClanahan’s interception gave the Wave the ball at midfield late in the first half and a pick and 20-yard return by Trey Smith set Grundy up at the Pioneers’ 16-yard line.
That set up a 36-yard field goal by senior Wayne Mutter for Grundy’s only points.
At Max Meadows
Grundy.................................0 0 3 0 — 3
Fort Chiswell......................21 10 7 6 — 44
FC-Mabry 40 run (Gregory kick)
FC-Hamm 7 run (Gregory kick)
FC-Mooney 61 pass from Mabry (Gregory kick)
FC-Mooney 49 pass from Mabry (Gregory kick)
FC-Gregory 28 field goal
G-Mutter 36 field goal
FC-Mooney 31 pass from Mabry (Gregory kick)
FC-Beidleman 30 run (pass failed)
———
TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs: G 4, FC 19; Rushes-Yards G 34-43, FC 28-272; Passing Yards: G 29, FC 234; Comp-Att-Int: G 3-9-0, FC 9-12-2; Fumbles-Lost: G 0-0, FC 0-0; Penalties-Yards: G 2-15, FC 2-20; Punts-Average: G 6-41.7, FC 1-41.0.
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