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Wildcats Rally for Win!
November 19, 2009 Bunn High School
| Wildcats Rally For Win | By: GEOFF NEVILLE, Times Sportswriter
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SLIPPERY WHEN WET. Bunn High School quarterback Montrel Cooke (with ball) makes his way through muddy field conditions to pick up yardage during last Friday night's home decision over Richlands. |
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BUNN -- Allowing a touchdown just before halftime can often be a demoralizing fate for a high school football team -- especially during a close game.
But it only seemed to embolden the Bunn Wildcats during last Friday's home showdown against Richlands in the first round of the Class 2-A State Playoffs.
Richlands connected on a touchdown pass with only 20 ticks remaining before intermission to move ahead by five points.
Bunn, however, countered with a pair of unanswered TDs in the second half before holding off a late Richlands threat en route to a 21-19 conquest at the BHS Football Field.
"Most of the time, you really get down after giving up a touchdown like that,'' said BHS head coach Chris Miller. "We came out fired up in the second half. I saw something in our players' eyes that I hadn't seen in awhile.''
The Wildcats, now 9-3 and winners of nine of their last 10 games, will have a herculean task in the second round, as BHS will have to travel this Friday to meet undefeated powerhouse Reidsville.
But first, Bunn would have to outlast a solid Richlands team in a contest that featured four turnovers from each club on sloppy playing conditions.
Using its triple-option offense, Richlands struck first on Odell Benton's toss-sweep touchdown burst from 47 yards out to cap his team's initial possession at the 7:01 mark of the opening period.
After an exchange of possessions, Richlands was on the verge of adding to its cushion, but Bunn's Jeremy Gourley came up with a clutch interception in the red zone to end the march.
Richlands' next series ended with a fumble, and Bunn went 31 yards to move ahead as Montrel Cooke escaped for an 8-yard TD bootleg on fourth down. Caleb Watts added the PAT, and Bunn had moved ahead 7-6 in the second quarter.
But Richlands' next series was aided by a Bunn roughing-the-punter penalty, and the visitors would eventually capitalize when quarterback Tank Norman found Brady Harrington for a 32-yard scoring pass just 20 seconds before the break.
Richlands' 2-point try failed, but Bunn's opponent still went to halftime leading 12-7 following the potentially back-breaking score.
Bunn would have an answer as the Wildcats mounted a 63-yard drive in the third period that was capped by Richard Dunston's 3-yard TD run -- and Watts' PAT.
Richlands then committed a costly fumble, and Bunn took over just nine yards away from the end zone. Cooke dove in from the 1 early in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats were in charge at 21-12.
Norman's 34-yard touchdown run brought Richlands closer at the 6:01 mark of the final period, but Bunn helped wrap up the victory with a time-consuming drive that was eventually stopped on downs at the visitors' 31.
Richlands had a last chance in the closing minute, but couldn't pick up a first down on four attempts.
Bunn closed with 348 total yards, 256 of which came on the ground. Dunston (86) and Dominic High (72) combined to rush for 158 yards for the Wildcats, while Cooke was 8-of-12 for 92 yards through the air.
Norman rushed for 106 yards for Richlands, which amassed 289 total yards.
Bunn will now get ready for its toughest test of the season -- a trip to Reidsville to meet a Rams' club that is currently on an amazing 44-game winning streak.
Reidsville, the two-time defending state champion, hasn't lost a matchup since 2006.
In the last meeting between the clubs, Reidsville defeated Bunn four years ago by a 34-3 score in the state semifinals.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Rockingham County.
"Reidsville is the fastest team I've seen on tape in a long time,'' Miller said. "You don't win 44 straight games without working hard and being well-coached.
"I really think we've got a good game plan coming in.
"But the truth is, we'll have to play our best game and get a few breaks (along the way).''
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