by: Brian Hoffman
BYRD
OPENS WITH LOSS TO KNIGHTS
They say a football team improves the most between the first and second games of
the season. William Byrd coach Jeff Highfill certainly hopes so.
The Terriers had trouble blocking Cave Spring last week as they dropped a 28-14
decision to the Knights in the season opener for both teams. At that, the
Terriers were still right in the game midway through the fourth quarter, but
they just couldn’t overcome a plethora of mistakes that plagued them throughout.
“I was disappointed with the way we played,” said Highfill. “We made a lot of
mistakes. From tackle to tackle we had five kids on offense who had never
started a game at their position, including two guards who were up from the
jayvee. We tried to make some adjustments but it just got away from them.
“The offensive line play was critical,” he continued. “We jumped off sides three
times, and twice in critical situations.”
Byrd was expecting to have a strong rushing attack, but their top four runners
combined for just 48 yards total. Simeon Horstmann, who averaged 80 yards a game
last year as a freshman, managed just 30 yards in 12 carries against Cave Spring
and the two quarterbacks, Zach Hill and Jake Barton, had a combined 24 rushing
yards on 23 carries.
“Getting the first game under our belts will be helpful,” said Highfill. “And we
expect to get (three year starter) Brandon Harless back this week, so that
should be a big help.”
With all that, Byrd was right in the game. The Terriers scored first on a seven
yard run by Horstmann to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Cave Spring
scored the next three touchdowns, but it wasn’t necessarily due to poor defense.
On the first Byrd’s punt attempt was kicked into a blocker backing up, setting
up the Knights on the Byrd 8. The second TD was set up by a long punt return,
giving Cave Spring a first down on the 27. The third score came on a 35 yard
drive.
After the third Cave Spring TD Keith Jennings ran the kickoff back 81 yards for
a touchdown and Byrd trailed just 21-14 at the half. Jennings left the game
shortly thereafter with cramps and that was a tough loss for Byrd.
The Terriers had trouble moving the ball, but their defense kept them in the
game through a scoreless third quarter. Byrd has a first down on the Cave Spring
28 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get a score, and it wasn’t until late in
the game that the Knights tacked on an insurance TD to seal the win.
Byrd alternated Hill and Barton at quarterback trying to get something going.
Zach was four for five passing for 16 yards but the Terriers could only muster
69 yards of total offense. Darryl Preston had two catches and Jennings and
Horstmann had one each. Byrd didn’t have a completion to a wide receiver or an
end.
Defensively, Timmy Meador led Byrd with 15 tackles. Preston had eight and
Horstmann had seven, and Hill had an interception.
This week the Terriers will go on the road for the first time with a game at
Bogle Stadium against Hidden Valley. The Titans are coming off a winless season,
which included a 25-0 loss to Byrd in Vinton last September. They dropped their
season opener to Patrick Henry last week, 42-14.
“They struggled last year but they have a lot of people back,” said Highfill.
“And their quarterback(Michael Simonic) was hurt just before the season last
year and he’s a good player. He’s back this year, so they should be
much-improved.”
Byrd fans should come early. Cave Spring Middle School has been torn down and
parking is very limited due to construction. Highfill went to the jayvee game
last week, a 6-0 loss to the Knights, and had to search for a parking spot.
“There was hardly a spot to be found,” he said. “You’d think they had a big
crowd, but once I went in there wasn’t more than 100 or so people.”