UPDATE:
Lord Botetourt and G.W. Danville have only played once before, back in 2021 during the shortened COVID season. That game was a 70-6 blowout victory for the Cavaliers in Daleville. But tonight’s game told a very different story.
Lord Botetourt entered this game undefeated, with their only loss coming to out-of-state Reidsville, North Carolina. The game started defensively for both teams.
G.W. Danville settled for an early field goal, but it was no ordinary kick — Cameron Stephens nailed a 42-yard field goal to put the Eagles on the board.
The score was 3-2 Eagles after a safety by the Cavaliers. With about five minutes left in the first half, Angel Rigney threw through the air. Eric Irons, despite double coverage, made the catch to put the Cavaliers up 8-3.
Just seconds before halftime, the Eagles got the ball back and needed only one play. Alexander Brandon sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown, untouched. GW Danville led 12-8 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Caleb Miller kicked a field goal to bring the Cavaliers within two points, 12-10.
Minutes later, the Eagles were in the red zone. A pitch to Stanford Lipscomb set up a connection with Josiah Sanders for a touchdown. Danville led 20-13, a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter.
With under 10 minutes left, the Eagles led 20-16. The Cavaliers were driving but fumbled the ball, which was scooped up by Dominick Neal Hairston and returned for a touchdown.
That play sealed the game. G.W. Danville held off a late comeback by Lord Botetourt and won 34-31 with two minutes remaining.
Nick Anderson, G.W. Danville’s head coach, expressed satisfaction with the team’s effort.
Brooke Leonard reports that Lord Botetourt will go on a bye week, while G.W. Danville will face William Fleming next week in Danville.
It’s week 5 of high school football, a critical time when teams start to separate contenders from pretenders before district play heats up.
Tonight’s game is another big test for both teams, undefeated Lord Botetourt will travel south and take on G.W. Danville for the second time ever, in a highly anticipated high school football matchup.
Brooke Leonard caught up with G.W. Danville head coach Nick Anderson to discuss the team’s journey so far.
Anderson said the team likes to challenge itself early in the season. “When you play tough teams at the beginning of the season, you get a lot of questions answered,” he said.
After a tough opening game loss on the road against a North Carolina state championship powerhouse, the team did some soul searching and made corrections that helped them win their next two games.
Those wins came against tough district opponents Amherst County and E.C. Glass, which Anderson called a “big thing down here in Danville.”
Looking ahead to tonight’s matchup against Lord Botetourt, Anderson said his team is preparing for a physical, tough contest. “They block, they run well, they tackle well,” he said.
“We’re going to have to play with power and a chip on our shoulder. Hopefully, you just play where they fall.”
For a full breakdown of scores across our region, click here.