Gregory has career night in Dan River’s win, Patrick County edges Chatham on field goal
Gregory rushes for career high, three scores, Cornell throws for 100-plus yards, score in Cavaliers’ game …
Late field goal lifts Patrick County to thrilling victory over Chatham
STUART, Va. — Patrick County got a late field goal and held off Chatham the rest of the way for a narrow 17–14 win over the Cavaliers Friday night.
The loss marks the first loss for the Cavaliers who were looking for their first 4–0 start since 2019.
With the game tied at 14–14 with around five minutes remaining in regulation, senior Reyll Martinez-Tejeda gave the Cougars a three-point lead. Chatham (3–1) moved the ball into Patrick County on its ensuing drive, getting the ball down to the Cougars’ 15-yard line but the Cavaliers’ comeback efforts fell just short.
The ‘Cavs got off to the early start as senior Aidan Hodnett continued his sold season with a 1-yard touchdown run to give Chatham an early 7–0 lead. Patrick County (3–1) fought back and knotted the score on its ensuing drive. That was the last of the first-half scoring, though, as both defense’s locked down to keep it 7–7 going into the break.
Playing in front of their home crowd, the Cougars got the crowd going with a 32-yard touchdown run on an inside reverse but senior Zander Cornell said no problem on the Cavaliers’ next possession, finding fellow senior and cousin Kennen Lewis for a 42-yard touchdown on a slant rout to knot the score at 14–14.
However, Patrick County landed the final blow on its field goal in the fourth to steal the win.
Cornell was impressive on the evening, completing 11 of 17 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Hodnett led the ‘Cavs’ rushing game with 43 yards and a score on five carries. Lewis recorded 68 receiving yards and a score.
Cornell turned in a complete performance all around, recording a team-high 12 tackles, including seven solo, while junior Bennett Hubbard finished with 11 takedowns, eight solo, and junior Jack Reece finished with 10, including three for a loss and a sack. Hodnett added eight tackles with two coming for a loss.
Chatham returns to action next week when it hits the road for its Dogwood District opener against an undefeated Nelson County squad. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Gregory’s career-night leads Dan River past Martinsville
RINGGOLD, Va. — Junior D.J. Gregory rushed for a career-high 361 yards and three scores, freshman quarterback Stanford Lipscomb threw for a pair of scores and rushed for two more and senior Trevon Brooks recorded a pair of touchdown receptions in Dan River’s 56–27 win over Martinsville Friday night.
Gregory scored on runs of 21, 53 and 83 yards to complete the hat trick. Lipscomb threw for 120 yards and a pair of scores while rushing for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns while helping the Wildcats convert five 2-point conversions.
Brooks proved an effective target, hauling in team-bests of 102 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. He recorded scoring receptions of 15 and 28 yards.
Davian Griffith added a fumble recovery for the ‘Cats.
Martinsville (0–4) was paced by Marcus Long who scored a pair of rushing touchdowns while passing for another. Long broke off runs of 10 and 20 yards while senior Jordan Smith came down with a 20-yard reception in the fourth quarter that concluded the Bulldogs’ scoring.
Dan River (2–2) took a 40–20 lead on Gregory’s second touchdown run with time running down on the third quarter. Long found Smith for a passing score to pull the Bulldogs within two scores, 40–27, with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game but Brooks’ 28-yard touchdown reception and Gregory’s 83-yard scoring run capped a string of 16 straight points that all but sealed the game for the Wildcats.
Lipscomb scored on runs of 10 and 5 yards for the ‘Cats.
Dan River has a bye before returning to action Sept. 29 in its Dogwood District opener against Gretna at home at 7 p.m.
