Eagles roll on to the next level

Hunter Rogers 303 yds   4 td's.

BERRYVILLE, VA- The Clarke County Eagles used their vicious ground attack and solid line play to defeat the Buffalo Gap Bison 38-20 to move to third round of the VHSL 2A Eastern Region football playoffs.

Clarke County (10-2) rushed for 413 yards and 5 touchdowns on their way to their eighth consecutive win dating back to September 30.

Senior Hunter Rogers paced the Eagles rushing for 303 yards and scoring four times on runs of 40, 50, 12, and 63.

"We knew coming into the game that it was going to be a hard fought battle." Rogers said, "We did well on both sides of the line. We came out and got the ball and scored and I think that was great for our momentum."

The previous two weeks Clarke surrendered early touchdowns and started out behind. After Buffalo Gap (8-4) won the coin toss and deferred Clarke wasted no time scoring as Rogers went in from 40 yards out on the third play from scrimmage and Clarke never trailed in the game.

"We knew it was going to come down to the trenches." Eagles coach Chris Parker said, "Buffalo Gap's got a very proud program and we knew it was going to be a physical game."

Buffalo Gap turned the ball over three times in the first half, twice on fumbles and a pass interception, but Clarke only managed to get  3 points on a 32 yard field goal by Nick Bahamonde. Rogers went in for his second score with a little over two minutes to go in the half to give Clarke a 17-0 lead at the intermission.

The teams each scored three times in the second half and every time the Bisons appeared to be getting back into the game the Eagles answered to keep a double digit lead.

Buffalo Gap came out with an impressive drive to start the second half and Josh Reed scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 42 yard gallop to close the gap to 10.

Clarke answered right back when Rogers broke through the middle of the line and powered in from 12 yards out to keep the momentum on Clarke's side.

"Our offensive line stepped up and opened up some holes for Hunter and the other backs to get through." Lineman Kyle Anderson said, "We made some changes at halftime and came out and got the win."

Eagles quarterback Chris Davis raced 63 yards for a score that once again appeared to put the game out of reach, but Gap wasn't done scoring yet.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game." Davis said, "The second week of the playoffs we knew we had to have a good week of practice. We knew that we had to come out and grind and that's what we did."

Gap quarterback McKenzie Hamric connected on a 67 yard touchdown pass to Jay Johnson on one of the few mistakes the Eagles made in the half. Johnson was able to get behind the Clarke defenders and went untouched to the end zone.

Reed went in from yards out in the fourth quarter to pull the gap back to 11, but Rogers came right back and slammed the door with a 63 yard scamper down the sideline to ice the game for the Eagles.

The Eagles now must take their act on the road as they will travel to Goochland on Friday to face the undefeated Goochland Bulldogs. The Bulldogs (12-0) defeated the Strasburg Rams 35-13 last week and Washington & Lee 49-7 in the first round.

For the third year in a row the Eagles will be holding football practice over the Thanksgiving holiday break.

"It's something special. We usually practice in the morning and then we go to Thanksgiving meal." Parker said, "We take a picture, it's something you don't usually get to do. There's something special about Thanksgiving and togetherness, its special."

Kick off is scheduled for 7:00PM Friday at Goochland High School 3250 West River Road, Goochland, VA 23063.

Game highlights and interviews can be viewed on the Clarke County Sports Game of the Week...