Independence…The Pioneers saw their losing streak go to eight games in a row as the Grayson Co. Blue Devils defeated them 42-6 in a game played at Independence.
Fort Chiswell (0-8) used tight end Colby Rider as their quarterback in the “wildcat” because of their starter Warren Moore was ejected last week at Narrows. They also lost their second and third string quarterbacks, Tanner Bailey and Davin Odum, last week because of injuries.
Grayson Co. hit the Pioneers in the first two minutes of the game as Tyler Lundy hit Brett McPherson on a long pass and then Isaac Flippin ran in from seven yards to go up 7-0 and never looked back. Grayson went on to score three more times as Lundy hit Seth Phillips for touchdown as well as McPherson. Lundy also rushed for the other first half score.
Fort Chiswell finally got on the board late in the third quarter as junior varsity quarterback Brody Crockett hit Colby Rider from 20 yards out. The two-point conversion pass would fall incomplete for a 35-6 score with 2:04 left in the third.
The Blue Devils (5-3) had gone up 35-0 early in the third as McPherson rushed for a touchdown. Their final score came on a Lundy 12 yard run to go up 42-6.
The story of the game for the Pioneers as has been the whole season is they had trouble moving the football. Then on the other side of the ball, they have had trouble stopping the opposition. Fort Chiswell’s leading rusher, Rider had just 31 yards. They finished 17 of 34 passing for 177 yards.
Grayson Co. finished with 336 yards. Lundy was 11 of 22 passing for 194 yards and threw two touchdowns. He also rushed for 100 yards and rushed for two more scores.
Pioneer head coach Todd Tiller said, “We shot ourselves in the foot again tonight. We got down early and didn’t get stops when we needed them. Mistakes are just killing us.” Coach then added, “Grayson did a good job tonight against us. They are well coached.”
The schedule doesn’t get any easier as they play their nemesis, the Graham G-men, next Friday. Kickoff will be at 7 pm at Fort Chiswell.