A player that arrived just days before came up with a fumble recovery and an interception. A standout new linebacker/running back played right tackle. And a deer ran onto the field and interrupted play.
It was that kind of Saturday at Blue Ridge where the Barons scratched and clawed their way to a win despite several early missteps, finally kicking into gear to trounce Hargrave Military Academy 34-8. But a big key for Blue Ridge may have been simply a better effort than what the Barons put together against North Cross in their season opener.
“I think one of the things we noticed last week was that we just weren’t in good enough shape,” said Blue Ridge coach Del Smith. “Guys weren’t pursuing to the ball. I noticed the pursuit and the effort on both sides of the ball was just a lot better.”
The Barons started off in much the same fashion as the North Cross game with several unnecessary penalties. But Blue Ridge quickly settled down and took control of the contest.
Smith had to press several players into action with a number of key contributors stuck on the sideline, including Cody Takahara, the new arrival who picked up the fumble and the interception. But he got big production from two members of his offensive backfield that he’ll be counting on — Jerrod Williams and Robin Moore — who both ripped off several big plays.
Williams 75-yard catch and run while Moore put together a 65-yard sprint. Both finished with over 100 yards on the ground as Blue Ridge got the kind of consistent product it was searching for last week in a flat effort againt North Cross.
Hargrave’s offense, in the meantime, sputtered consistently. The Tigers struggled to move the ball against a swarming Blue Ridge defense, at times getting dropped for losses on three straight plays. Blue Ridge linebacker Terrance Barnes had a big hand in that effort. But while the 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker out of Orlando, Florida piled up the tackles defensively (five solo), it was his offensive work as a fill-in at right tackle that was perhaps the most impressive.
“I don’t even play this position but I’m going to do it for my coach and my team,” Barnes said. “I picked it up a week ago.”
He played well, helping pave the way for Moore’s big run that came over the right side of the line in the fourth quarter.
Takahara, a Canadian with a strong lacrosse background, had been working out with his school’s squad in Canada before he headed south.
“My first practice was Thursday and it was just shoulder pads and yesterday was just helmets, so this is a game I’m not really used to,” “I’m learning their system on the fly.”
Andre Roberts went 12-for-20 passing and threw for 161 yards. Lance Grey perfectly executed a fake punt for the Barons, finding Williams for a 49-yard gain.
Blue Ridge takes on Liberty Christian Friday night in a big time game.
