William Byrd turns back Hidden Valley

One coach told his team how tough losses like the one it had suffered Friday night would bode well at playoff time.

The other coach informed his team it cannot continue to sputter when the opportunity to put a game away presents itself.

Both spoke of momentum and that, ultimately, was the deciding factor in William Byrd’s 27-14 victory over visiting Hidden Valley.

“We had momentum to start the second half, a chance to really switch momentum back to us and [William Byrd] took it back,” Hidden Valley coach Scott Weaver said.

The Titans (0-2) trailed 14-7 when they received the kickoff to open the second half. On their third play, quarterback Jake Smiley was intercepted by Hunter Shepherd. William Byrd (2-0) capped a brief four-play, 35-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run by quarterback Zac Hill for a 21-7 lead.

“It was the second week in a row where every time we are in position to put people in a hole, we shoot ourselves in the foot,” said William Byrd coach Jeff Highfill.

On the Terriers’ next possession, Hill was intercepted by Hidden Valley’s Jeremy Rice, short-circuiting what had been an efficient drive. Then, after seemingly limiting the Titans to a three-and-out possession, Billy Howe broke to the outside on a fake punt and rumbled 51 yards to the Terriers’ 2.

Walker Brand plunged over the goal line and Hidden Valley was within 21-14 with 11:56 remaining in the game.

“We were yelling ‘fake, fake, fake’ right there,” said Highfill, who feared his team allowing a potential runaway to devolve into a nail-biter like last week’s 28-21 win against Cave Spring.

“We had them on the ropes but we couldn’t deliver a knockout punch,” he added.

Forgive the Titans if they disagree.

Marcellus Fletcher took the ensuing kickoff out to the Terriers’ 49, then William Byrd embarked on a 14-play, 51-yard scoring drive that ended with Hill’s second rushing touchdown and a 27-14 advantage.

Hill also connected with Josh Marcus on a 38-yard touchdown pass. He finished with 161 rushing yards and 45 passing yards. Simeon Horstmann provided some balance for the Terriers, complementing Hill with 106 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

“Hill is a very good football player,” Weaver said. “You have to understand he’s going to get his yards and you have to try to limit everyone else.”

Brand, who also had a three-yard touchdown run, finished with 66 yards on 19 carries for the Titans, who were outgained in total yardage 312-209.

William Byrd will travel to Salem next Friday while Hidden Valley plays host to Northside.

Hidden Valley 0 7 0 7—14

William Byrd 7 7 7 6—27

WB — Horstmann 2 run (Coleman kick)

WB — Marcus 38 pass from Hill (Coleman kick)

HV — Brand 3 run (Dermott kick)

WB — Hill 11 run (Coleman kick)

HV — Brand 2 run (Dermott kick)

WB — Hill 5 run (kick failed)

HV WB

First downs 11 13

Yards rushing 155 267

Passes C-A-I 4-15-3 2-3-1

Yards passing 54 45

Penalties-yards 2-10 4-40

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Punts-average 1-36 1-29

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Brand 19-66, M. Dermott 10-33, Atkins 3-6, Smiley 3-1, Flici 1-(-2), Howe 1-51. William Byrd, Horstmann 15-106, Hill 31-161, Williams 1-0.

PASSING — Hidden Valley, Smiley 4-13-3-54. William Byrd, Hill 2-3-1-45.

RECEIVING — Hidden Valley, Howe 2-25, Rice 1-18, Atkins 1-11. William Byrd, Marcus 2-45.

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