varsity.roanoke.com

MONETA -- Staunton River's Wesley Gates returned the opening kickoff in Friday night's football game against Alleghany about 50 yards to midfield. He closed the game with an even more spectacular play -- a 56-yard interception return of a desperation heave -- capped off with his dive for the pylon as the exclamation point on a 31-20 Blue Ridge District victory.

In between, he returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score, parlayed a short hitch pass into a 36-yard touchdown and outstretched a Mountaineer defender in the end zone for another 36-yard TD pass reception. He played nose guard almost the entire game on defense and recovered a fumble.

When the ballots are returned for Timesland's outstanding individual performance of the 2009 football season, Gates' Friday night four-touchdown masterpiece will draw serious consideration. None of the scores were of the routine variety. But his coach, Rick Witt, isn't even sure it was Gates' best game this year.

"He's had a lot of great games," Witt said.

Who could blame Witt if his head was spinning? The Eagles' reversal of fortune is reaching epic proportions. Staunton River started out the year 0-3, extending its losing streak over a three-year period to 28 games. Since then, the team has won five straight. Games against district foes William Byrd and Northside loom on the horizon.

"We want a playoff berth," Gates said. "The school hasn't been there since '96. We want to make it this season."

Alleghany (6-3, 1-2) led three times during the game but Mountaineer coach Jack Baker was forced to insert 140-pound freshman quarterback Deandre Burks when Seth Bradley suffered a leg injury early in the third period. Bradley had completed eight passes for 97 yards in the first half. Alleghany's offense stalled in the second half.

"We wanted to win No. 7 tonight," Baker said, "but [Burks] was put in a tough spot. I thought he did all right given everything."

Trailing 25-20 late in the game, Burks moved his team into Eagles' territory, even apparently converting a fourth-and-10 passing situation into a first down. But the play was called back due to a holding penalty.

Alleghany got the ball back for the final time on its 10-yard line with 5.5 seconds left. Burks flung the ball as far as he could, but Gates, moving from nose guard to safety, intercepted and scored as time ran out.

Sensing no need to add insult to injury, Witt declined to attempt the conversion. "They had a player down on that final play," Witt said. "Out of respect to him and his family, I told the officials we didn't want to try the extra point."

How was Gates going to celebrate Friday's victory? "Chill," he said. "We've got another game next week."

Alleghany 7 7 6 0--20

Staunton River 12 7 0 12--31

A Lewis 7 run (Burns kick)

SR Gates 99 kickoff return (kick failed)

SR Gates 36 pass from Jones (run failed)

A Kirby 25 pass from Bradley (Burns kick)

SR Gates 36 pass from Jones (Hardy kick)

A Burks 3 run (run failed)

SR Jones 22 run (run failed)

SR Gates 56 interception return (conversion not attempted)

AL SR

First downs 13 12

Yards rushing 40-150 39-132

Passes C-A-I 8-15-2 5-9-0

Yards passing 97 89

Penalties-yards 4-30 2-10

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2

Punts-average 2-48.0 4-29.8

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Alleghany, Lewis 17-87, Bradley 11-34, Burks 10-30, Gibson 2-(-1). Staunton River, Coles 24-102, Jones 8-0, White 5-20, Gates 2-10.

PASSING -- Alleghany, Bradley 8-13-1 97, Burks 0-2-1 0. Staunton River, Jones 5-9-0 89.

RECEIVING -- Alleghany, Kirby 6-87, Carter 2-10. Staunton River, Gates 4-87, Combs 1-2.