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Arena football is back in the Roanoke Valley.

Actually, that's a lie. But all that was needed Friday night at William Byrd High was two nets in either end zone to catch errant balls, some skinny goal posts, and an indoor playing field.

Even with none of those niceties available, host Byrd and Christiansburg played the nearest approximation to arena football seen in these parts for some months.

About the only plot turn that didn't happen as the Demons pulled off a 41-40 victory, was the Terriers staging one more comeback.

After already having battled back from a 21-7 deficit to take a 40-34 lead, the Terriers couldn't muster one more late rally to pull this one off.

"We just have to forget about this and get ready for Cave Spring," Byrd coach Jeff Highfill said.

That's the Terriers' next opponent. Just like all the rest of Byrd foes this year, the Knights will be coming into that game undefeated.

"It may be hard to get up for that one after this kind of loss, but we have to," Highfill said.

The decisive play was a 29-yard scoring strike from Andrew Hoffer to Jacques LaBoone with 51 seconds left. Zach Boyd booted the critical extra point to give his team the winning edge.

Byrd (1-4) drove to the 48 but stalled there as time ran out for the game. The lead changed hands three times before Christiansburg (4-0) emerged with the win.

Hoffer and LaBoone were terrific. Hoffer completed 9 of 12 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the second half alone. For the game he went 11-for-19 for 171 yards.

"The line blocked well for me and that created a lot of openings for our passing attack because I could wait a little longer," Hoffer said.

LaBoone was good for seven catches for 121 yards and a pair of scores.

"I was frustrated at first because I wasn't getting open," LaBoone said. "We made some adjustments to change that. We spread the field some and that made it easier. Once I made my first catch of the second half, I just got on a roll."

Christiansburg added 255 rushing yards. Halfback Terrell Burkes had 13 carries for 138 yards.

For the home team, it was a waste of a great game for all-purpose threat Billy Ray Welch, who scored five touchdowns including a 72-yard punt return. He added scoring runs of 36, 35, 4, and 7 while rushing for a game high 183 yards.

"He played his heart out," Highfill said.

Aaron Conner added 122 rushing yards and a 42-yard scoring jaunt that first put the Terriers on the board.

"Every single game we've had to overcome some type of adversity," Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer said. "Well, next week we're off."

Christiansburg14 7 7 13 - 41

William Byrd7 14 12 7 - 40

W - Conner 42 run (Frazier kick)

C -Alcorn 27 run (Boyd kick)

C - Alcorn 3 run (Boyd kick)

W - Welch 36 run (Frazier kick)

W - Welch 35 run (Frazier kick)

W - Welch 72 punt return (pass failed)

W - Welch 4 run (run failed)

W - Welch 7 run (Frazier kick)

C - LaBoone 12 from Hoffer (kick failed )

C - LaBoone 29 from Hoffer (Boyd kick)

CHS WB

First downs21 15

Rush yards255 305

C-A-I11-19-0 3-5-0

Passing yards171 58

Pen.4-45 2-20

Fumbles/lost 1-1 0-0

Punts-yards3-40 4-30

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Christiansburg Burkes 13-138, Thompson 10-52, Hoffer 9-30, Alcorn 5-35. William Byrd , Welch 25-183, Conner 17-122.

PASSING - Christiansburg, Hoffer 11-19-0 - 171. William Byrd, Welch 3-4-0 - 58, Conner 0-1-0 - 0.

RECEIVING - Christiansburg, LaBoone 7-121, Thompson 10-52; William Byrd, Conner 2-28, Markham, 3-4.