PREP FOOTBALL: Pioneers power past Bearcats

BRISTOL, Va. – It wasn’t only a key Clinch Mountain District game, but it had huge Region D, Division 2 playoff implications. 

Running back Dylan Smith and quarterback Andrew Jessee led Lebanon to a 52-28 win over Virginia High at Gene Malcolm Stadium. The only thing that slowed either team’s offense down was a one hour lighting delay.

Lebanon put on a spectacular display of offense. It amassed 606 yards of total offense. 

Smith set the tone, going the distance on the Lebanon’s first offensive play with a 64-yard touchdown run. He finished with 239 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

“We’ve been worried about our offense, wondering if we could do anything,” said Lebanon coach John Adams. “We came out of our shell tonight. I was real pleased with the way we ran the ball and Jessee threw some nice passes.”

Jessee had a stellar night completing the first 10 passes he threw. He was 11-of-12 in the first half with five touchdown passes. He finished with 161-yards through the air.

“I’ve never thrown the ball like that,” Jessee said. “Jerome Cobb made some unbelievable catches. When Dylan scored on that first run it kind of opened up the passing game. It was a good night to throw the ball even with the rain.”

Cobb had seven catches for 134 yards and four touchdown receptions.

Virginia High quarterback Andy Bowers also had a great night. Bowers attempted 55 passes, completing 24 for 322 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. 

Josh Jordan – a sophomore – caught eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bearcats’ high powered “spread” offense was solid. But they couldn’t stop Lebanon.

The Pioneers scored the first eight times they had the football.

“We were decent on offense,” said Virginia High coach Chris Thurman . “But we can’t tackle. We haven’t tackled all season and we haven’t gotten any better at it.”

Virginia High (4-3, 1-1) travels to Gate City in another CMD contest next Friday. There will be a lot of VHSL rating points on the line when Lebanon (4-2, 1-1) travels to Richlands in an important non-district contest.