varsity.roanoke.com

Sprained ankle and all, Floyd County quarterback Luke Harris (1) led the Buffaloes on a long game-winning drive against Lebanon in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Group A Division 2 semifinal in Floyd.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Lebanon's Bob Jones (5) recovers a Floyd County fumble in the first half of Saturday's Group A Division 2 semifinal. The Pioneers led 13-7 late in the fourth quarter, but Floyd rallied to win.

Photos by JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Floyd County's Brett Holman (4) celebrates with head coach Winfred Beale after the Buffaloes came from behind in the final two minutes to beat Lebanon 14-13 on Saturday at Floyd County High School.

FLOYD -- If Floyd County High's football team has proved anything to its opponents this year, it is that when you have the Buffaloes down, waste no time in administering the knockout punch.

Two weeks ago, George Wythe couldn't do it and lost by a point after driving deep in Floyd County territory late in the game. The Buffs subsequently staged a long march and scored with seconds left.

Although history was not repeated exactly Saturday, there were plenty of similarities, as Floyd County quarterback Luke Harris orchestrated another late-game drive that ended with an 8-yard scoring pass to Christian Rodrigue. The conversion kick followed by Nathan Weiss, giving the Buffaloes a thrilling 14-13 win over Lebanon in the Group A Division 2 semifinals Saturday afternoon.

It was the first state semifinal ever played at Floyd's home field. The Buffs (13-0) remained undefeated and will make their third bid for a state football championship against Gretna, a 45-40 victor over Essex, 4:15 p.m. Saturday at Salem Stadium.

Floyd County lost in the state championship in 2001 to Washington & Lee and to Madison County in 1999.

Against big, strong, and fast Lebanon (10-3), there was much to overcome: three turnovers, 70 yards in penalties, the Pioneers' bulk and tenacity, not to mention exhaustion.

Things never looked more bleak than when Lebanon, leading 13-7, had a first-and-10 from the Buffaloes' 11 late in the fourth quarter.

"It looked extremely bad," Floyd County coach Winfred Beale said. "You know it did. I mean, you just have to be honest."

The Pioneers had things going their way for most of the second half, outgaining Floyd County by 90 yards and outscoring the Buffaloes 13-0, all that coming in the third quarter. Lebanon's lone hitch had been a blown extra-point kick by Steve Melchor after quarterback Terrell Lee had raced 52 yards for the go-ahead score.

Later, after stopping the Buffs in Lebanon territory, the Pioneers had a first down from their own 11. Floyd County's defense, which limited the Pioneers to 16 total yards and one first down in the first half, couldn't hold and Lebanon converted on a third-and-5.

Then, 6-foot-3, 215-pound fullback Daniel McClanahan ripped loose for a 52-yard gain, breaking about four tackles en route, and ended up at the Buffs' 11 with under two minutes to play.

But Floyd County's defense made a big play. On first down, the Buffs' defensive front got a good push just as quarterback Andrew Jessee was about to hand the ball off.

"I was coming around and one of our D-tackles hit the quarterback and it rattled the ball loose," linebacker Matt Link said. "So I just grabbed it and took off down the field behind one of our backs."

Link was stopped at the Floyd County 18. There was a minute and a half left.

No problem.

"We've done it before," Floyd County wide receiver Brett Holman said. "We've done it before, just like George Wythe. There wasn't a doubt in my that we had the ability to do it."

Perhaps he was the only one so assured. The Buffs just hadn't been the same since Harris scored from 13 yards out in the first quarter.

He'd twisted his right ankle on the play and nevertheless stayed in action most of the rest of the half. He came back after intermission with a his foot and ankle heavily taped. He played only on offense until late in the game when he couldn't stand watching any more.

"It was sore," Harris said. "I don't know what happened on the touchdown. I sprained it. I hope that's what it is."

Limited mobility and all, Harris went 6-for-8 for 78 yards during the winning drive. He converted a fourth-and-20 from his 42 with a 21-yard pass to lanky Ethan Griffith. Harris connected twice with Holman for 36 yards. On the second catch, Holman had tipped the football out of the defender's hands up into the air and into his own.

On first-and-goal, the offensive line gave Harris all the time he needed to find somebody open.

"They do it every week," Rodrigue said of his teammates on the line. "Every time we get in trouble, they'll step up and do it for us,"

Harris rolled to his right to avoid the pressure and eventually found Rodrigue at the goal line near the right pylon. The senior made the snag and fell into the end zone as he was pulling away from the defender.

"Every week, we do a scramble drill just in case Luke gets in trouble," Rodrigue said. "I was trying to get open and find a window and he got it to me."

It had been a very long game.

"We play seven or eight guys both ways, so we were gassing out there near the end," said Pioneers coach John Adams, whose team had a seven-game winning streak snapped. "We couldn't get much pressure on him."

The clock showed 6.8 seconds left. Weiss made the conversion, and the Buffs had their first lead since the 3:53 mark of the third quarter.

The Pioneers tried to execute a multiple-lateral kickoff return but in so doing, ran out the clock.

Adams has been at his post since 1987 and he rated the loss to Floyd County No. 2 on the heartbreak scale next to a particularly bitter playoff defeat to Powell Valley in 1994.

"This is a hard one," he said. "We thought we were the better team in the second half. Give them credit. They made the plays when they needed to. They have a good team.

"And Harris, he's a gutsy dude, now. He's hurt and he made plays when he needed to make them. He's a first-rate quarterback."

Lebanon 0 0 13 0-- 13

Floyd County 7 0 0 7-- 14

FC -- Harris 13 run (Weiss kick)

L -- Widner 6 pass from Jessee (Melchor kick)

L -- Lee 52 run (kick failed)

FC -- Rodrigue 8 pass from Harris (Weiss kick)

L FC

First downs 8 13

Yards rushing 198 63

Passes C-A-I 6-10-1 16-26-1

Yards passing 50 142

Penalties-yards 8-61 6-70

Fumbles-lost 3-2 3-2

Punts-average 2-32.5 3-34.3

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Lebanon, Cobb 21-56, McClanahan 7-89, Jessee 3 - (-1), Lee 3-54; Floyd County, Harris 12-28, Bonham 7-25, Jones 8-15, Hollandsworth 1-5.

PASSING -- Lebanon, Jessee 6-6-0-50, Lee 0-4-1-0; Floyd County Harris 15-24-1-141, Hollandsworth 1-1-0-1, Holman 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING -- Lebanon, Widner 2-18, Smith 2-16, McClanahan 1-10, Martin 1-6; Floyd County, Holman 5-58, Jones 4-7, Rodrigue 2-21, Griffith 3-39, Bradford 1-11, Slavicek 1-13.