'It feels incredible': Fort Defiance keeps winning streak, and playoff hopes, alive with win
STUARTS DRAFT — Before this season, the last time Fort Defiance football put together a four-game winning streak was 2012, which also happens to be the last time Fort was in the playoffs.
And while we probably shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, Fort took a step toward returning to postseason play Friday night with its fourth win in a row, beating Stuarts Draft 28-14. Coming into the night the two teams were tied for seventh in the Region 2B power ratings with the top eight teams qualifying for the playoffs.
Fort finishes the regular season with home games against Wilson Memorial and Staunton before going on the road to Buffalo Gap. Those three opponents are a combined 7-14 after Friday night. Wilson has four of those wins.
"It feels incredible," said junior Carson Wright. "The spirits in the locker room have really been lifted up. It feels really good."
Wright came up with what might have been the play of the game as the first half was winding down.
After the teams traded first-quarter scores — Fort's Bradley Hebb scored on a 1-yard run before Draft's Landon Graber connected with brother Baylor Graber for a 28-yard touchdown pass — Fort gained the upper hand when, on fourth-and-5, Trey Miller found Talyn Armentrout for a 19-yard touchdown pass at the 9:24 mark of the second quarter.
Draft was driving for the tying score just before halftime, getting the ball inside the 10, but a throw to the end zone ended up in Wright's arms and Fort went into the locker room up seven. Wright said he just saw the ball sail over the receiver's head and he was waiting there for it.
"That stand right there at the end of half was so fantastic," said Fort Defiance coach Dan Rolfe. "That's really the difference in the game."
Fort got the ball to start the second half and made the most of it. On a third-down play from the Draft 31, Miller somehow broke out of a pack of players and darted up the middle for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead. That was his longest run on a night that saw the junior quarterback finish with 104 yards rushing and 49 yards passing, per stats provided by ESPN 1240's Joe Deck.
Draft made Fort sweat, recovering a fumble at Fort's 43 and turning it into seven points with 9:12 to go in the game. Baylor Graber's 2-yard carry got Draft back in the game.
While Wright's interception may have been the play of the night, the drive of the night came after that Graber touchdown. With all the momentum with Stuarts Draft, Fort mounted an 80-yard, 11-play drive that ate 6:07 off the clock. Hebb capped it with a 16-yard run, giving Fort a two-score lead and, essentially, the game.
"That was huge," Rolfe said. "We knew coming in we had to control the ball. We started the game in a different formation and threw it a little bit, but that (drive) was about our offensive line and mashing a little bit. Bradley Hebb ran his little butt off. Trey Miller ran his butt off, but the line was really the difference there."
Fort Defiance's defense held the Graber brothers in check most of the night. Two weeks ago the siblings each had over 100 yards in a win over Staunton. Friday night, they combined for just 94 yards in losing to Fort. Landon, the junior, finished with 59 yards rushing and Baylor, just a freshman, had 35.
"Defensively, I thought we played a spectacular game," Rolfe said. "They are a good offensive team. Those two brothers are a heck of a pair of football players. We knew that coming in and we were able to contain them at least a little bit. They still made some great plays and all the credit goes to them, but I am so proud of our defense tonight."
Hebb finished with 59 yards rushing and the two touchdowns. Armentrout was on the receiving end of four of Miller's completions, finishing with 39 yards and a score.
Fort lost its first three games this season, but those three teams — Turner Ashby, Alleghany and Riverheads — are now a combined 16-2. TA and Alleghany are in the top six of Region 3C and Riverheads is second in Region 2B.
"After summer we knew we could be a pretty good football team," said Rolfe. "We ran into some stiff competition and I think it made us harder and a little better. It showed tonight."
In other Shenandoah District games Friday, Wilson Memorial beat Buffalo Gap 40-6 and Riverheads survived Staunton 14-12.
Schedule for Friday, Oct. 13
STUARTS DRAFT (4-3) at WAYNESBORO (0-6), 7 p.m.
RIVERHEADS (5-1) at BUFFALO GAP (1-6), 7 p.m.
WILSON MEMORIAL (4-3) at FORT DEFIANCE (4-3), 7 p.m.
STAUNTON (2-5), Open Week
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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Fort Defiance keeps winning streak, and playoff hopes, alive with win
