Byrd is the word as VHS tops Raiders

Logan Byrd’s 99-yard touchdown run brought a lot of excitement to the stadium. His little 1-yard sneak into the end zone won the game.

Veterans High’s senior quarterback put the offensive load on his shoulders Friday, leading the Warhawks and coach David Bruce to a tough 14-7 Region 2-AAAA win against West Laurens High at Herb St. John Stadium in Perry. Byrd ran 20 times in all for 119 yards to see that Veterans opened region play with a 2-0 record heading into the Friday rivalry showdown with Perry High.

West Laurens’ Blue Raiders were looking to build off a dramatic five-point region win from the previous weekend at the expense of Upson-Lee High at home. Much like the Warhawks, West Laurens is a primary running football team, but after a 46-yard gain in one first-quarter rush from Darius Bradford, the Raiders barely averaged two yards a play on the ground against a much-improved Veterans defense.

The carries for Warhawks tailback Desjuan Harris went down to 19 on Friday, and he gained 74 yards for his efforts. Byrd completed 10 passes, and while it was only for 63 yards there were some important catches made (without yards afterwards) in a second-half drive that left West Laurens with little time to pull even.

In the first half, there was nothing but impressive punting numbers for both Byrd and Raider Bill Leroy. So with a 0-0 game going into the third quarter, the Raiders got the opening kickoff by deferring the coin toss win. But they went three-and-out gaining nine yards on three runs, tackles made by Josh Lee at linebacker and lineman Jermell Lucas.

Leroy pulled off a punt of 53 yards rolling dead on the Warhawk 6. Two times in the first half, Byrd had to run plays from his 1. He found himself there one more time when Harris was stopped for a loss.

On 3rd-and-15, Byrd took the snap from the shotgun, tucked the football in and found one of the biggest holes he could expect. He had enough for a first down, but was still on his feet racing to his home sideline. Nobody defensively was near him to stop a touchdown that is and most likely forever will be a school record.

Dylan Blevins added the PAT kick.

Storm Walker’s kickoff return for WL saw him break tackles to get up to his 42-yard-line. Quarterback Jalen Mack, after being corralled by Lee and Lucas for a short gain, went back to throw. Vanden Vicsotka picked it off on the Warhawk 39.

Byrd followed linemen Logan Hurless and Nathan Burch for a 22-yard pickup inside the Raider 30. Harris also rushed for 11 to the 16, but West Laurens stopped them there forcing a field goal try that missed wide left at 3:23.

Mack, seeing rushing attempts ineffective, hurt the Warhawks with the pass to get his team in position to tie the game. Using the flea-flicker, Mack found Leroy in coverage for 43 yards to the VHS 36. On second down, Mack’s tight end Payton Baggett slipped open for a catch on the 6.

Even though Lee and Lucas kept Bradford in play for two straight downs, the third down was his charm. The two-yard touchdown came with 13 seconds left on the quarter clock.

Bruce always talks about making opponents drive the length of the field, because somewhere along the way teams are apt to make a big mistake. His offense found itself in that same situation, the only thing missing being the huge error. There was the first play of a game-winning 16-play 9:20 series where Byrd ran option and lost three yards to end the quarter, but things went near perfect to go 78 yards in the final period.

Colby Mauldin had five catches Friday for 48 yards, including a route where he earned 12 after Byrd’s loss. Veterans converted third down three times in this march, and Mauldin had another reception in the flat for 17 yards into Raider territory.

Harris took holes made by Hurless for 20 yards in consecutive rushes to the 18. With 5:17 on the clock, it was 3rd-and-4 and Harris’ line gave him space for five to the 7.

The Raiders stopped Harris on the 1 for 4th-and-goal, then took their final timeout at 2:51. Play No. 16 in a row saw Byrd sneak over, get the TD signal and give Blevins a chance to make it 14-7.

West Laurens ran four plays total in the last quarter. On fourth down, there was a hook-and-ladder try safety Matthew Hearst stopped for a loss.

Byrd did not punt the football in the second half, but in the first he had a 44-yarder and one with a 57-yard roll. Leroy did a 50-yarder, and due to a bad decision of returning earned a net of 61 yards on another from his coverage unit.

When Bradford gained 46 yards in West Laurens’ first possession, it put the football on the Veterans 26. On 3rd-and-3, Hearst stopped Greg Covin one yard shy of the marker. Mack tried to sneak his way to a first down – even had pushing help behind him – but Lee’s and Landon Quarles’ pushing won that battle for Warhawk ball.

Byrd gained 23 in one play-fake keeper but also lost nine on Mataio Elvine’s sack. When Leroy pinned the Warhawks to the 10 late in the first, Mauldin caught a pass over the middle for first down. But when Veterans lost more yards, Byrd hit is 57-yard punt to the Raider 13.

Hearst caused a fumble WL got back for 3rd-and-10, but then Mack rolled and hit Leroy for 14 yards. Quarles was in on two tackles afterwards, including one for three lost yards and fourth down. Leory’s punt of 50 yards put the hosts on the 8 with 1:49 before halftime.

The Raiders got the football back at their 43 (could have been the VH 40 if not for illegal blocking) and 1:07 to use. Dawson Stephens, lineman back in action after recovering from injury, tackled Bradford for a loss. At the 14-second mark, Lucas fell on a fumble snap.

• Perry High will enter this Friday’s contest as the home team and looking to get a victory in 2-AAAA after three straight losses, including last weekend’s 35-7 setback at Upson-Lee.

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