varsity.roanoke.com

DANVILLE -- The smart guy who coined the term "special teams" didn't have Franklin County's football Eagles in mind. Anybody who saw the squad play at George Washington Friday night won't think of anybody else when the topic comes up again.

Special teams helped seal the deal as the visiting Eagles held off relentless GW 41-32 to claim its first outright Western Valley District title since 2005.

Franklin County, outgained 485-196, scored four special teams touchdowns in winning its seventh straight game and sealing first-year coach Chris Jones' reputation as a turnaround specialist with few peers.

"What was it, four special teams touchdowns?" GW coach Dan Newell said. "I've never been in a game with four special teams touchdowns. I would have liked to have seen how the game went if we hadn't made so many mistakes on special teams."

It was a wild one from the start of the second quarter. The teams combined for 40 points in that frame alone with Franklin County taking a 27-13 halftime lead.

But run-loving, wing-T operating GW had other ideas. Junior quarterback Kevin Shuler went 8-for-21 for 205 yards, 101 of those in the second half including a 37-yard TD to do-everything running back DeVaughn Benion.

The ultra-fast Benion was unstoppable at times, leading all rushers with 163 yards on 17 carries and catching four passes for 78 more yards. Benion scored twice.

There was no making up for the misfiring GW special teams though.

After surrendering two blocked punts that ended in TDs, one by Will Chitwood and the other by Thad Basham, and a 37-yard punt return by Shane Preston that also scored, Danville's Eagles were plucked for good by an 83-yard kickoff return from a hurting Tae Gilbert that closed out the pyrotechnics with 10:16 left.

Franklin County needed the return as GW had just finished scoring 19 unanswered points after the visitors took a 34-13 lead.

Gilbert, who rushed 20 times for 113 yards, also scored on an 9-yard pass from quarterback T.J. Shaw with 6:58 left before halftime. Gilbert's right shoulder was sore after the first play, leaving him almost in tears at game's end.

"Coach said follow your blocks," he said of the kick return "When I caught the ball, I gave it everything I got."

Over on the opposite sideline, Newell was having a fit.

"We put a new kicker in and told him to kick it out of bounds," Newell said. "Then he kicked it straight to him."

Jones saluted Gilbert.

"He's a player," said Jones, who also won district titles at Bath County and Heritage, his previous two head coaching stops, in his first seasons there too.

The two coaches crossed paths after the game ended.

"You ever been in one like that?" Newell asked.

"No, I have not," Jones replied.

Jones was equally brief in postgame remarks to his celebrating team.

"Three words: We did it."

Franklin County 0 27 7 7--41

George Washington 0 13 13 6--32

GW -- Jackson 3 run (kick fail)

FC -- Gilbert 9 pass from Shaw (Boone kick)

FC -- Chitwood 12 blocked punt return (kick failed)

FC --Preston 37 punt return (Boone kick)

GW -- Shuler 7 run (Campbell kick)

FC -- Basham 48 pass from Shaw (Boone kick)

FC -- Basham 22 blocked punt return (Boone kick)

GW --Benion 3 run (Campbell kick)

GW -- Benion 37 pass from Shuler (kick fail)

GW --Jackson 2 run (pass fail)

FC -- Gilbert 83 kickoff return (Boone kick)

FC GW

First downs 9 16

Yards rushing 137 283

Passes C-A-I 2-7-2 8-21-1

Yards passing 57 205

Penalties-yards 3-35 7-60

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Punts-average 3-43.3 1-34

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Franklin County, Gilbert 20-113, Spencer 6-30, Shaw 3-(-6); GW, Benion 17-163, Jackson 19-76, Shuler 4-27, Ham 3-7.

PASSING -- Franklin County, Shaw 2-7-2-57; GW, Shuler 8-21-1-205

RECEIVING -- Franklin County, Basham 1-48, Gilbert 1-9; GW, Benion 4-78, Moore 2-98, Lee 1-20, Ham 1-9.