The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

High School Sports

October 20, 2007

Late Sissonville drive downs Shady

By Scott Rhudy

The Sissonville Indians kept their playoff hopes alive with a close, hard-fought 28-26 come-from-behind victory over the Shady Spring Tigers Friday night.

After the Tigers took the lead 26-21 with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Indians started their final drive from their own 41-yard line and drove down the field to score on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Will Black to Blake Cunningham with 58 seconds remaining.

“They took it and drove it down our throat,” Tiger coach Vince Culicerto said after the game. “What they did was spread out their offense, and we thought they might have to go with the pass. Then they ran it up the gut and had a couple of big runs.”

For much of the game, the Indians pounded the ball down the middle with tailback Nathan Brill amassing 218 rushing yards on 29 carries.

“Oh my goodness, Nathan Brill came up big for us,” Sissonville coach Todd Chevalier said. “But I thought it was a true team effort tonight.”

Despite being down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Tigers fought back in the second scoring two touchdowns. Missed extra points by the Tigers put the score at 14-12 at halftime after Brill scored a touchdown in the second quarter on a 35-yard run.

Shady took the lead late, when Collins connected with Brooks on a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 26-21 lead with 2:11 remaining.

That set up the dramatic winning drive for the Indians and spoiled the Tigers’ senior night hopes of garnering its fourth win.

“I tip my hat to them,” Culicerto said. “They had to battle back, too, and they did.”



Sissonville 28, Shady Spring 26

S (5-4) 7 7 7 7 — 28

SS (3-6) 0 12 2 12 — 26

First Quarter

S: Nathan Brill 21 run (Josiah Shamblin kick) 3:48

Second Quarter

S: Brill 35 run (Shamblin kick) 5:40

SS: Eric Lucas 10 run (kick failed) 11:52

SS: Walter Patton 4 pass from Josh Collins (pass failed) 1:26

Third Quarter

S: Brill 1 run (Shamblin kick) 5:03

SS: Lucas and Bartlett safety 2:10

Fourth Quarter

S: Blake Cunningham 5 pass from Black (Shamblin kick) :58

SS: Dustin Syvertson 16 pass from Collins (kick failed) 10:56

SS: Matt Brooks 26 pass from Collins (2 pt. conversion failed) 2:11

RUSHING – S: Brill 29-218-2, Jonsen Edens 4-18, Raymond Casto 1-(-5)

SS: Collins 16-47, Eric Lucas 9-46-1, Travis Mullins 2-0, Walter Patton 1-7, Brandon Frye 5-2

PASSING – S: Will Black 4-9-0-24. SS: Josh Collins 19-24-0-185, Eric Lucas 1-1-0-6

RECEIVING – S: Adam Holmes 1-11, Chris Hastings 1-8, Blake Cunningham 1-5.

SS: Eric Lucas 6-74, Dustin Syvertson 3-24-1, Walter Patton 2-0-1, Matt Brooks 3-66-1, Travis Mullins 2-33, Brandon Frye 1-(-2), Josh Collins 1-6

TURNOVERS – S: Brill (Fumble)

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