Saturday, October 24, 2009
Cole's 3 TDs lead Cave Spring over Blacksburg
The Bruins get three TDs from Terrence Travis, but their rally in the stretch falls short. | Cave Spring 27, Blacksburg 19
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BLACKSBURG -- Cave Spring was looking to continue its success on Friday night with a big dose of the running game.
The tandem of Michael Cole and Sam Wright did just that, as the Knights ran for 255 yards and four touchdowns in a 27-19 win over Blacksburg.
Cave Spring (7-1, 2-1 River Ridge District) averaged nearly 6 yards per carry. The Knights ran the ball 43 times, and it often paid off big.
Blacksburg (2-6, 0-3) kept the game close all night, but Cave Spring managed to keep the Bruins at arm's length.
Cole gained 138 yards on 15 carries. He scored three times, including on a 54-yard run with less than two minutes to play, which clinched the victory.
Cole took the football, cut inside to the left and jetted down the field, leaving defenders behind.
"The line did a great job," Cole said about the run. "I just hit [the hole] and ran for my life."
Cole used his size and speed, especially in the second half, to make a dramatic impact. Besides his game-icer, Cole scored on runs of 5 and 41 yards.
"He is a great kid," Cave Spring coach Tim Fulton said. "He works so hard. Michael had a great night."
The Knights did struggle to keep Blacksburg quarterback Terrence Travis in check. The elusive speedster scored three touchdowns and gained 87 yards.
But a mental mistake cost the Bruins. Blacksburg had a 34-yard touchdown run by Travis called back because of a holding penalty.
Travis finished 10-of-19 for 143 yards and an interception in the loss -- the Bruins' third in a row.
Cave Spring was happy to be heading home with a victory, but the Knights know it wasn't pretty.
The Knights had enough big plays to keep Blacksburg chasing, but Cave Spring never managed to throw a knockout punch.
Fulton knew that when his team needed a play most, it pulled through.
"I think we made some plays when we needed to make some plays," Fulton said. "We held in there. We are just happy to come out on top in this one."
Though the Knights will not win style points for their victory, they will certainly take it.
"A win is a win," Cole said.
Many more may be on the way, but the Knights know what's ahead. Next week Cave Spring hosts Christiansburg.
Cave Spring 0 7 6 14--27
Blacksburg 6 0 7 6--19
B -- Travis 7 run (kick failed)
CS -- Wright 27 run (Hafey kick)
CS -- Cole 5 run (kick failed)
B -- Travis 1 run (Robinson kick)
CS -- Cole 41 run (Hafey kick)
B -- Travis 54 run (kick blocked)
CS -- Cole 54 run (Hafey kick)
CS BL
First downs 17 13
Yards rushing 43-255 34-139
Passes C-A-I 11-16-0 10-19-1
Yards passing 89 143
Penalties-yards 4-30 3-24
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Punts-average 4-30.8 3-38.3
Individual statistics
RUSHING -- Cave Spring, Wright 23-153, Cole 15-138, Woodrum 3-(-25), Team 2-11. Blacksburg, Travis 19-87, Anderson 4-28, Hite 5-18, Garner 6-6.
PASSING -- Cave Spring, Woodrum 11-16-0-89. Blacksburg, Travis 10-19-143-1.
RECEIVING -- Cave Spring, Jacobsen 3-52, Dill 3-15, Wright 2-4, Kemp 1-10. Blacksburg, Sowers 7-62, Davidson 1-35, Amacher 1-27, Hamden 1-19
