Northside Late Finish Topples Botetourt 33-21

The Northside defense (right, in green and gold) stood tall in the 4th quarter Friday night,   holding Botetourt scoreless on four possessions as the Vikings rallied for the 33-21 win.
The Northside defense (right, in green and gold) stood tall in the 4th quarter Friday night,
holding Botetourt scoreless on four possessions as the Vikings rallied for the 33-21 win.

Last year’s battle between Northside and Lord Botetourt featured two unbeaten teams going into overtime before the Cavaliers from Daleville captured the win on a defensive stop.

Friday night at Jim Hickam Field, Northside returned the favor by coming up with four key defensive stops in the fourth quarter.

Rebounding from an early 14-0 deficit, the Vikings pulled away from a 21-21 tie with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Northside pulled out the 33-21 Blue Ridge District victory.

Both teams entered this year’s battle with two losses, but with the 2013 nail biter still on the minds of the standing-room-only crowd, there was plently of drama throughout the contest.

Botetourt wasted no time in getting things started.

Taking the opening kickoff, Botetourt stunned the Viking faithful on its fourth play when running back Noah Fletcher broke through the Northside defense and raced 59 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 Cavs lead after the Grant Clemons PAT.

Botetourt head coach Jamie Harless then called for the first of several onside kick attempts with the Cavs pouncing on the loose ball at the Viking 33. Three plays later it was seven more points when running back Bradley Lythgoe punched it in from 5-yards out and Clemons converted to put Botetourt up 14-0.

Botetourt missed a great opportunity to put the Vikings on a huge uphill comeback trail when a trick pass play for a sure touchdown was dropped and Clemons missed on a field-goal attempt from 36 yards.

Northside began its comeback on the first play of the second quarter when Viking quarterback Josh Hardister hit receiver Tyler Doyle with a 15-yard touchdown strike that cut the deficit to 14-7.

Botetourt gave up potential points on an interception late in the second quarter, and Northside used the opportunity to drive 88 yards with their hurry-up offense. Hardister capped it off with a 1-yard QB sneak with just under 3 seconds left to send the teams to the locker room tied at 14.

Northside took its first lead of the game midway through the third after sophomore Tra’ Jackson was pressed into the quarterback role after Hardister was forced to the sideline with leg cramps. Jackson mastered a Viking drive before taking it in from 2-yards out that gave Northside a 21-14 lead.

Botetourt responded after a strong kickoff return with a tying score when Lythgoe plowed across from 2-yards out to make it 21-21.

Jackson sent the Vikings up 27-21 on a 37-yard scamper on the first play of the fourth quarter and, although the door was left open after a missed point-after, Botetourt was shut down by the Northside defense.

Hardister returned behind center and after the Vikings converted on a fourth down play, Jackson scored from his backfield position on a 2-yard run with 7:13 left in the game.

The 33-21deficit put Botetourt in the unusual position of having to play from behind and the Viking defense stood tall against the Cavalier passing game.

Lythgoe had a game-high 149 rushing yards to lead the Botetourt offense. Jackson led the Northside ground attack with 90 yards, while Hardister add 142 yards through the air for the Vikings.

– Bill Turner

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