Courtland
Many spectators traveled Route 58 to Courtland and Southampton High School on Friday to attend the last big game of the regular season, “The Backyard Brawl.” With both teams surging in wins during the last few weeks of the season, many spectators were looking for a good battle between the two teams, but watched as the home team turned the tide and took an easy 43-8 bragging rights game win over the Broncos.

Well, it started out fast and quick as the Broncos’ Natron Lee went the distance and scored on the opening kick-off as the clock ticked off 14 seconds. Darium Everett crossed the line on the 2-point conversion and the Broncos were off and running. The Broncos pulled off the recovery of a short kick deep in the Indians’ territory, but could not capitalize on it and turned the ball over to the Indians.

The Indians, showing off their offensive power, also quickly went to work as they drove down the field and scored on their first possession on a two-yard touchdown run by Tradell Ricks. Ricks also scored on the 2-point conversion to tie the score at 8 all in the first quarter of play.

The Indians once again tighten up on defense and forced the Broncos to turn the ball over. The offense, cranking up again showed its stuff as Tradell Ricks scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and for the 2-point conversion to put the home team ahead 16-8, which held as the score for the ending of the first quarter.

Going into the second quarter, the Indians’ offense continued to drive and score as Tyrik Mason scored on a 7-yard touchdown, but the 2-point conversion failed. The Indians now had advanced the score to 22-8.

The Broncos back on offense again could not move the ball and were forced to punt. The Indians blocked the punt and took possession of the ball on the Broncos’ 8-yard line. With 1:20 remaining in the half, Indian QB Andrew Blunt connected on a 7-yard touchdown pass to Darius Bell. The two-point conversion failed, but the home team was up 28-8 as the first half of the game ended.

The second half all belonged to the Indians as they added two more touchdowns in the third quarter of play. Both touchdowns came from Tayriel Ruffin on runs of 13 and 14 yards. Ricks added the two-point conversion on one and Sean Hollloway added a kick on the last touchdown.

The Broncos did not have a good night in all phases of the game. In rushing they had 56 yards and in passing 42 yards. The Broncos were penalized 16 times for 171 yards.

For the Indians in rushing they gained a total of 288 yards with Tayriel Ruffin leading with 181 yards.

Southampton head coach, Littleton Parker said after the game, “I feel good about the win and I believe that it was a total team effort. We eliminated making mistakes and stayed away from turnovers. On offense, we executed good and the defense played well.”

Parker also added that the Indians will play in the first round of play-off games on Friday, Nov. 11 against I.C. Norcum in Portsmouth.

The Broncos head coach Darren Parker in his comments after the game said, “We will focus on the play offs and find out who we will play.

Tonight we lost and we will go back and regroup. God is always good.”

For the first round of the play offs, the Broncos will be at home on Friday against the Panthers of Charles City County.