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'Cats end season with bang
Blacksburg scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a 34-21 deficit. Byars scored on a 4-yard run and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gary Dean Moore as the Wildcats pulled within 35-34 with 4:28 left in the game. Moore's second touchdown catch capped an eight-play drive after the Wildcats recovered an onside kick. The score became critical when Crescent running back Vic Peckham had a 1-yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left. Byars connected with wide receivers Myron Mitchell and Rashad Earls for gains of 12 and 28 yards. A late hit after the catch by Earls moved the ball to the 8-yard line with 33 seconds left. Byars scored two plays later. He than ran in the game-winning 2- point conversion. Blacksburg coach Robbie Blanton was pleased with how his players fought through adversity and made the plays to win at the end of the game. "Proud is an understatement. They showed so much resilience. I knew they had it in them," Blanton said. "This was a great way to end the season for our seniors and the team. This gives us momentum headed into the offseason." Byars was one of 15 seniors playing their final game for Blacksburg. He enjoyed a career night with 412 yards in total offense, including 185 yards rushing. He rushed for three touchdowns and threw three touchdown passes. He did not have an interception. Blacksburg took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 75-yard run by Byars and a 65-yard touchdown catch by Moore. Crescent scored the next four touchdowns behind an overpowering rushing attack that gained 467 yards. Running back Ross Weller rushed for 171 yards while his backfield mate Brandon Mitchell had 157 yards, including scoring runs of 42- and 95-yards for Crescent. This allowed Crescent to take a 26-14 lead entering the fourth quarter. Byars cut the lead to five points with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Earls. After a short scoring run by Byars with six minutes left, Blacksburg recovered an onsides kick called by Blanton. The onsides kick was followed by an eight play scoring drive that pulled Blacksburg within a point. "The way they were lined up, they were giving it us," Blanton said of the onsides kick. Blanton took another risk after a 1-yard run by Byars pulled the Wildcats back within a point with seconds left. He decided to go for the winning 2-point conversion rather than an extra point that would have sent the game into overtime. "I liked our chances from 3-yards out," Blanton said. "We had momentum on our side." Wildcat Stats
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