Playing on a muddy and in a lot of places standing water on the Glenvar field the Radford Bobcats defense came through big time as they defeated the previously undefeated Glenvar Highlanders 17-7. The only points the Bobcats gave up was on the very first play of the game as Glenvar running back Bradey Loder took the handoff and went off tackle and rumbled 80 yards for the score. Kain Fuhrman’s point after put Glenvar up 7-0 with just 13 seconds off the clock.

Radford (9-1, 6-0) would miss a 34-yard field goal at the 5:58 mark of the opening quarter as they continued to be down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. As the two teams battled back and forth in a defensive battle, Radford would finally get on the scoreboard with 1:01 before halftime as Connor Lytton would hit a 37-yard field goal to cut Glenvar’s lead to 7-3 going into intermission.
The second half saw Radford’s defense step up in a big way when linebacker Jaylin Taylor intercepted Landry Gerbers’ pass at the Highlanders 26 and returned it for a pick-six with 8:04 showing in the quarter. Lytton’s kick put the Cats up 10-7, a lead they would not relinquish. They would drive the ball in the middle of the fourth quarter and score on a P J Prioleau seven-yard run and Lytton’s point after upped the Radford lead to 17-7 with 5:05 left in the contest.

Radford after that 80-yard run on the opening play of the game limited the Highlanders (9-1, 5-1) to 43 yards and only one other first down in the first half. Four plays in the game for Glenvar accounted for 163 of their rushings yards. Take away those runs and the Highlanders had just nine yards on 30 carries. Glenvar had 100 yards passing but 86 of that came in the last three minutes of the game.

” I’ve told people our defense is pretty darn good, ” said a very happy Bobcat head coach Matthew Saunders. ” I’m so proud of what they did here tonight. I love those guys. Glenvar is a very, very good team and it was a heck of a ball game. ” When asked about Jaylin Taylor’s interception for a huge touchdown that helped turn the game, Coach Saunders remarked,” We call him No-hands Monday-Thursday, but he sure shows up on Friday nights. He helps lead the defense.” Radford’s motto for this season has been,” We aren’t knocking, we’re busting down the door.” The coach said,” These kids deserve this. I love these guys.” They busted the door down with their win tonight. What a remarkable turn around from last year to this year, 2-8 to 9-1. Folks that’s seven-game improvement in the regular season. No playoffs to being a top seed in the region playoffs. That door has been busted.

The win gives Radford the Three Rivers District championship and more than likely a number one seed in the Class 2 Region C playoffs next week. They have now won eight games in a row. Their opponent is not known as of this time. It will be one of three teams, Buckingham Co., Dan River or Fort Chiswell. Kickoff will be slated for 7:00 pm next Friday night at Bobcat Stadium.

Radford 0 3 7 7 -17

Glenvar 7 0 0 0 -7

First Downs – Radford 13 , Glenvar 8

Penalties – Radford 6-45 yds., Glenvar 3-34 yds.

Turnovers – Radford – none, Glenvar -1

Rushing – Radford – Prioleau 23-103, Marshall 6-38, Taylor 2-18, Shepherd 3-14, Rupe 8-8, Glenvar – Loder 22-187, Street 5-12, Gerbers 7-(-27)

Passing – Radford – Rupe 4 / 16 – 0 ints.- 0 tds.- 39 yds., Glenvar – Gerbers – 7/14- 1 int. 0 tds. – 100 yds.

Receiving- Radford- Shepherd 2-25, Marshall 1-8, Taylor 1-8, Glenvar – Sebolt 3-51, Alexander 3-41, Forster 1-8

Punting – Radford – Hollins – 7- 40.3 avg., Glenvar – Fuhrman – 7- 26.4 avg.