Deja vu: Bears nip Blues on final play
Richlands (28) vs. Union (29)
Written: Sep 06, 2014
Staff report
RICHLANDS, Va. — For the second straight season, the Bears of Union High got the best of the Richlands Blue Tornado on the last play of the game.
Bryce Spear caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Hall as time expired Friday night and Devon Simon kicked the crucial extra point as Union shocked the Blues 29-28 at Ernie Hicks Stadium-EMATS Field.
Richlands (0-2) racked up the first 21 points of the game, holding Union scoreless through the first half. River Michaels ran the ball for two scores and Zeke Vance provided the Blues’ third touchdown on a 41-yard interception return.
Hall got the visitors on the board with a 22-yard run with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was 11 seconds old when Richlands’ Brandon Waldron scored from 5 yards out, and the extra point produced a 28-7 lead.
With the use of Hall’s arm, the Bears stormed back. Hall threw for 176 yards in the fourth quarter alone, and ended the night 27 for 50 for 223 yards. He also had seven rushes for 73 yards.
Rashon Nokes caught a 22-yard scoring pass with 4:37 left. Hall, the holder for the extra-point try, snatched up a bad snap and took the ball across the goal for a two-point conversion to cut the Blues’ lead to 28-22.
Spears tied the game on the final play with the final reception, and Simon’s kick capped a 22-point final period for the Bears.
Michaels ran for 76 yards on 22 carries was 8 for 12 passing for 78 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Richlands senior Cade Mullins caught three passes for 42 yards.
Union defeated Richlands on the last play in 2013, on an interception return.
Richlands plays Graham next Friday night at Mitchell Stadium at 7 p.m.
At Ernie Hicks Stadium-EMATS Field
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — UHS, Daniel Hall 7-73. Richl, Griffin McCauley 9-68, River Michaels 22-76.
PASSING — UHS, Hall 27-50-223 yds.-2 TD. Richl, Michaels 8-12-78-1 TD-1 intc.
RECEIVING — UHS, James Mitchell 10-127, Rashon Mokes 10-59. Richl, Cade Mullins 3 -42, McCauley 2-19, Brandon Waldron 2-15.
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