Nobody could blame the Central Holmes duo of Lamarion Buchanan and John Ward if they were a little tired after the Oak Hill game last week.
The duo ran for more than 500 yards as the Trojans pulled away late to take a 49-35 win over Oak Hill.
Central Holmes coach Mitch Womack said it was a great game for fans to watch but not so much for the coaches.
“It was one of those games that just went back and forth,” Womack said. “It’s was sort of gut wrenching. You get a lead, blow a lead and that went on for most of the game. They were a 4A school and very big and physical and I thought we handled that pretty well. We made some adjustments on defense and I thought the offensive line dominated the game. We challenged our kids all week and I thought they responded. I thought both of our guys had exceptional nights running the football.”
The Trojans went down early as they turned the ball over on downs on their first two series of the game. Oak Hill took its first series and drove 67 yards in five plays and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.
The Trojans got a break when Hudson Haffey recovered a fumble near midfield. Buchanan then scored on a 5-yard run to cap off the four-play, 56-yard drive. Dan Lindsey’s PAT was good and the Trojans tied the game at 7-7.
Oak Hill got a good return on the ensuing kick and went 40 yards in five plays as they scored on a 25-yard run with 10:48 left in the second quarter to retake the lead at 14-7.
But Central Holmes answered and went 62 yards in five plays as Buchanan scored on a 44-yard run. Lindsey hit the PAT to tie the score at 14-14.
After an Oak Hill punt, Ward found the end zone as the Trojans went 85 yards in just four plays, scoring on a 16-yard run. Lindsey’s PAT was good and Central Holmes took its first lead at 21-14.
The lead was short lived as Oak Hill scored four plays later on a 40-yard run with 1:07 let in the half to tie the game at 21-21 going into the half.
“I told our kids after the game that it’s good to be in a game like this and see what kind of fight you have,” Womack said. “You need a game like that heading into the playoffs. Almost every team we have faced is bigger with more numbers. Our kids’ character and heart has been tremendous. It was one of those games that tested our moxie. I’m pleased with the way we are playing the football.”
Oak Hill missed a field goal on its first drive of the second half while the Trojans threw an interception on its first possession.
The Raiders then went 41 yards in seven plays and scored on a 5-yard run with 3:47 left in the third to retake the lead at 28-21.
Central Holmes answered with a quick score at Buchanan scored on a 47-yard run. Lindsey’s PAT tied the game at 28-28.
After an Oak Hill punt, the Trojans again struck quickly with a 48-yard run by Ward with 11:50 left in the game. Lindsey’s PAT gave the Trojans a 35-28 lead.
But Oak Hill responded with a nine-play, 58-yard drive to tie the game at 35-35 midway through the fourth.
Central Holmes was pinned deep on its own 3 with the ensuing kickoff but the Trojans went 97 yards in six plays as Ward scored on a 46-yard run with 5:14 left in the game. Lindsey hit the PAT as Central Holmes retook the lead at 42-35.
Oak Hill fumbled the ensuing kick and Central Holmes recovered on a Raiders’ 35-yard line. Five plays later, Buchanan scored on a 5-yard run with 2:56 left in the game. The PAT provided the final margin of 49-35.
The Trojans had another big night on offense with 522 yards of total offense. Buchanan had 266 yards on 25 carries with five TDs. Ward had 240 yards on 17 caries with two TDs.
John C. Riley had 14 tackles while Aiden Adcock had nine tackles and a sack. Mike Jones had nine tackles while Gibson Parrish had eight tackles. Eli Carr and Carson Burrell each had seven tackles while Ward had six tackles. Josh Robinson, Logan Engle and Hudson Haffey each had five tackles. Sean Harrell and Buchanan each had three tackles while Cayton Edwards had two stops.
