VIDEO: Dan River puts together late comeback in win over rival Chatham

With his team gathered in its postgame huddle, Dan River football head coach Micah Knight told his guys they’d just turned in the kind of performance he’s been expecting all year…

Dan River senior DJ Gregory (1) breaks around the right side for a first down against Chatham Friday evening. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

RINGGOLD, Va. — With his team gathered in its postgame huddle, Dan River football head coach Micah Knight told his guys they’d just turned in the kind of performance he’s been expecting all year.

Knight wasn’t talking just to hear the sound of his own voice as the Wildcats turned in a fine performance on all fronts in a 53–32 win over rival Chatham on Homecoming in Dogwood District action Friday night.

Trailing 32–31, Dan River (2–6, 1–3 Dogwood) kicked off a string of 22 straight points with junior Kiyunn Myers’ 33-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion that saw senior DJ Gregory scramble before finding senior Da’Marion Robertson for a 39–32 lead with just under seven minutes remaining.

Robertson followed with a big play on defense, knocking away a Chatham pass for a fourth down and punt. The Wildcats’ answered with a scoring drive on their following possession, capped by Gregory’s 2-yard run that gave the ‘Cats a 45–32 lead with 1:34 left in the game.

Dan River’s defense finished off the scoring moments later when junior Josiah Farmer stepped in front of a Cavaliers’ pass and took it back for a 60-yard return and converted the 2-point attempt for the final score.

[embed]Dan River football’s Trevor Thomas and Kiyunn Myers caught up with River City Sports following Dan River’s win over Chatham Friday night in Dogwood District action. VIDEO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

Gregory had a big night for the Wildcats, running for a team-high 191 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Sophomore Keyon Brooks one-upped his efforts with a trio of touchdown scampers on 10 carries. Myers played a big role as well, racking up 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Brooks completed 8-of-12 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Myers led with 72 yards and a score on four receptions while sophomore Josh Richardson caught two passes for 32 yards.

[embed]Dan River football’s Rally Goddard, Josiah Farmer and DJ Gregory caught up with River City Sports following the Wildcats’ showdown against rival Chatham Friday evening. VIDEO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

Sophomore Amare Word was nothing less than heroic for Chatham (3–4, 1–2 Dogwood) running for a game-high 282 yards and three scores on 16 carries. Senior Jaden Breedlove rushed for a touchdown before going out early due to an injury while freshman Jacob Robertson ran the ball nine times for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Word completed five passes for 80 yards. Sophomore Tymoni Turner recorded two receptions for 70 yards while Jacob Robertson caught two passes for 10 yards.

Chatham sophomore quarterback Amare Word (8) runs out of bounds after picking up a positive gain against the Wildcats Friday evening. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

The Wildcats defense came up big on the evening, recording three takeaways. Farmer forced a fumble and brought down an interception while junior Trevor Thomas and senior Ja’Cori Gregory added fumble recoveries.

Sophomore EJ Linder recorded a pick for the Cavaliers.

The ‘Cats started the second-half scoring on Brooks’ 1-yard run that pushed Dan River in front, 31–25, with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. After both teams traded punts, Word put the ‘Cavs back on top, 32–31, with his 28-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the game.

That’s where the Wildcats’ rally started as they scored 22 straight to clinch the win.

Dan River senior Ja’Cori Gregory (54) gets after Tymoni Turner (4) Friday evening. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

Word got Chatham started on a bang, taking the first play from scrimmage for a 50-yard run and Breedlove quickly capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run that made it 6–0 at the 11:41 mark.

Linder swung the momentum back to the Cavaliers when he pulled down a pick on the Wildcats’ next drive. However, the ‘Cavs got bit by the turnover bug as Farmer stripped the ball and Thomas recovered. Minutes later, Brooks got the ‘Cats on the scoreboard with his 1-yard run and Myers pushed them in front with his 2-point run that made it 8–6 with 5:27 left in the frame.

Jacob Robertson capped a long drive with his 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Cavaliers a 12–8 lead with 10:34 left in the first half. Special teams isn’t always the most solid aspect in high school but freshman Rallye Goddard proved the exception as he capped Dan River’s following drive with a 36-yard field goal that pulled it within one, 12–11, with 6:30 on the clock.

Dan River sophomore quarterback Keyon Brooks (8) finds open space against Chatham Friday evening. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

Rivalry games are often see-saw affairs and Word continued the up-and-down when he took the Cavaliers’ first play from scrimmage for a 63-yard run that made it an 18–11 game with 6:20 remaining in the half.

Gregory returned the favor on the Wildcats’ ensuing drive, capping it with a 39-yard run that knotted the score at 18–18 with just over four minutes left in the half.

Word once again proved a thorn in the ‘Cats side when he capped the ‘Cavs’ quick ensuing drive with a 54-yard touchdown run and converted the 2-point attempt for a 26–18 lead with 3:13 on the clock.

Chatham senior Jaden Breedlove (6) cuts around the right side against the Wildcats. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

Dan River closed the frame strong, countering with a seven-play, 54-yard drive that pulled the Wildcats within two, 26–24, going into the break.

The ‘Cats defense gave them a strong start to the second as Ja’Cori Gregory pounced on a loose ball with four minutes left in the third. Brooks pushed Dan River back in front moments later with his 1-yard run that made it a 31–26 contest with 2:12 remaining in the third.

Chatham returns to action Nov. 1 when it hosts Gretna in Dogwood play at 7 p.m.

Dan River takes the field again Nov. 1 when it hits for the road for a Dogwood showdown against William Campbell at 7 p.m.

SUMMARY

Chatham 6 20 0 6–32

Dan River 8 16 7 22–53

C: Breedlove 11 run (No PAT)

DR: Brooks 1 run (Myers 2-point)

C: Jacob Robertson 7 run (No PAT)

DR: Goddard 36 field goal

C: Word 72 run (No PAT)

DR: Gregory 39 run (Goddard PAT)

C: Word 54 run (Word 2-point)

DR: Gregory 6 run (No PAT)

DR: Brooks 1 run (Goddard PAT)

C: Word 28 run (failed 2-point)

DR: Myers 22 run (Da’Marion Robertson 2-point)

DR: Brooks 2 run (No PAT)

DR: Farmer 70 yard return (Farmer 2-point)

Team stats

C; DR

First downs; 11;15

Rushes; 34–360; 47–283

Passing yards; 80; 122

Passing; 5–16–1; 8–12–1

Total offense; 440;405

Individual stats

Rushing — C: Jaden Breedlove 2–22, Amare Word 16–282, Tymoni Turner 1–4, Steven Glass 1–6, Jacob Robertson 9–35, David Royster 1–20, EJ Linder 1–0. DR: DJ Gregory 27–191, Keyon Brooks 10–33, Kiyunn Myers 10–59.

Receiving — C: Tymoni Turner 2–70, Jacob Robertson 2–10, David Royster 1–0. DR: Kiyunn Myers 4–72, Josh Richardson 2–32, Taavon Fitz 1–15, Kingston Merritt 1–3.