Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tears fall as Staunton River's football losing streak ends
Joy and fireworks erupted after Staunton River snapped a 28-game losing skid.
JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times
Staunton River quarterback Cody Jones tossed a 65-yard pass to set up the Golden Eagles' winning score against Patrick County.
JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times
Staunton River coach Rick Witt says he knew this would be the year the school's losing streak would end.
varsity.roanoke.com
Timesland on Twitter
MONETA -- Rick Witt knew when he finally won a football game as a head coach, when his Staunton River team finally broke its long losing streak, there would be cause for fireworks.
Witt just wasn't expecting to see them Friday night in Stuart.
But pyrotechnics are what Witt and his players got when they blew up their three-year, 28-game skid with a 48-42 victory at Patrick County that spoiled the Cougars' homecoming and some planned postgame festivities.
Meech Coles's touchdown with 1:29 to play wiped out a 42-40 deficit, then Brian Ellis tipped away a pass in the end zone as time ran out.
A celebration ensued, but not by the home team.
"It was pretty cool," Witt said. "As they're driving down the field, they've got 1,200 people ready to rush the field in the end zone. As soon as the game ends, those people drift off. Their principal comes over and says, 'Coach, if your kids aren't in a rush, we've got a 20-minute fireworks show. You might as well stay and watch it.'"
Admittedly, several Staunton River players had to dry their eyes first.
Ricky Pierce, who played as a freshman when Staunton River defeated Appomattox County 27-26 midway through the 2006 season, is the lone Golden Eagles senior who had ever experienced a varsity win.
Pierce was knocked to the ground by assistant coach Drew Sheldrake as the final horn sounded.
"As soon as the scoreboard hit zero, I was in tears," Pierce said. "I took off my helmet and just took off running with my arms wide open. Coach Sheldrake tackled me and he was crying, too. Emotions took over. I just couldn't believe it really happened."
Witt wasn't certain it would happen.
Patrick County quarterback Jacob Reynolds' third touchdown of the game put the Cougars up 42-40 with 2:29 to play.
"That's the one time I really got nervous," Witt said. "Our kids, I thought, 'Are they going to start thinking we've lost 28 in a row?'"
Not this time. Jones, moved back to quarterback after spending the first three games this year at fullback, hit Wesley Gates for 65 yards to set up the winning TD by Coles.
Staunton River scored 22 points in the fourth quarter while having the ball for just 1 minute, 28 seconds.
The Eagles have some talent, but the losing streak was a heavy burden entering the season.
"I figured if it didn't end this year then it wasn't going to happen, because we've got the best athletes we've had in a long time," Jones said. "I knew we could do it athletically. The big thing was if we had the confidence to do it."
Staunton River has endured decades of football struggles, but recent years have been particularly painful.
The team went 0-10 in David Rocco's final season as the Golden Eagles' head coach in 2007. During October that year, senior Ashton Bonds -- who played football for the school in 2006 -- died of a staph infection.
Witt's first year on the job in 2008 produced another 0-10 record, followed by three more losses to start this season.
Now there will be no more well-meaning but back-handed compliments.
"Along with the monkey off our back, teachers will stop saying stuff like, 'Hey guys, at least ya'll scored Friday night,'" Witt said. "You hate that. You're like, 'What do you mean, we scored?' It's football. You're trying to win.
"I think the football program defines the character of your school. For some reason, one win and everyone's talking about it."
Or trying to.
"I called everybody in my family," said Gates, who caught three passes for 147 yards, returned a kickoff 97 yards for a TD and made 11 tackles.
Witt said he had 57 missed calls and 45 text messages, many from colleagues at William Byrd where he was once an assistant coach. Cave Spring coach Tim Fulton called with congratulations. So did Liberty's Chris Watts.
Witt, a 1991 Staunton River alumnus said former Golden Eagles' coach Bob Gray -- the only man to lead the program to the VHSL playoffs -- was in Stuart for the game.
So was Witt's high school coach, Ronnie Turner. He's been serving on road trips as Staunton River's bus driver.
"That meant a lot to have him there," Witt said. "I went up to him after the game and said, 'You know, Coach Turner, the field house is way back up on the hill, uh ... finally he just looked at me and said, 'You're the boss, Coach. If you want me to move the bus, I'll move the bus.'"
The wheels are rolling and Staunton River doesn't plan on stopping. The Golden Eagles will be James River's homecoming opponent this week. In two weeks, Staunton River is the homecoming guest at Lord Botetourt.
"When I realized it was my first win, I guess I cried a little bit," Jones said. "Then I said, 'All right, this isn't going to be the last one.'"
