Blacksburg quarterback Joseph Upchurch throws a long pass Friday evening as St. Joseph defenders apply pressure in the Iron City Jamboree. Blacksburg won 13-12 over St. Joseph, a Greenville private school in its first year playing traditional high school football. Special teams were the difference for Blacksburg in a 13- 12 victory Friday over St. Joseph in the Iron City Jamboree.

Blacksburg blocked a field goal attempt in the first quarter and stopped a 2-point conversion attempt in the final minutes to preserve their jamboree win over St. Joseph at T.A. Campbell stadium.

The Wildcats passed their first special teams test in the preseason while getting early practice dealing with adversity.

St. Joseph running back Anthony Stoddard had touchdown runs of 17 and 46 yards in the second quarter to erase a 13-0 Blacksburg first quarter lead. Stoddard's 46-yard scoring run pulled St. Joseph within 13-12 with two minutes remaining.

St. Joseph was unsuccessful on a 2-point conversion pass attempt while going for the win. Chase Hames had a 33-yard run to move Blacksburg past midfield shortly before time expired.

Photo by SCOTT POWELL Fullback Josh Batten is tackled on a 10-yard Friday evening as freshman offensive lineman Caleb Dover looks for another St. Joseph player to block downfield in the Iron City Jamboree. Blacksburg took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter on one yard touchdown runs by Chase Hames and Raymond Ellis. Bradley Phillips had a 45-yard run to set up the Wildcats' first score. Marquel Palmer had runs of 22 and 16 yards for the key plays on Blacksburg's second touchdown drive.

Blacksburg primarily ran the football against St. Joseph. Quarterbacks Treyvon Parker and Joseph Upchurch did not complete a pass in four attempts.

Blacksburg coach Mickey Moss said the jamboree gave coaches a chance to reward players for their hard work in practice while evaluating the team in a game type situation.

"We have a lot of ninth and tenth graders so we are real young," Moss said "Today was more about playing everybody. We wanted to keep it simple."

Every player on the Blacksburg varsity and junior varsity roster saw playing time against St. Joseph.

Upchurch and Parker rotated after every snap. Running backs Raymond Ellis, Bradley Phillips, Palmer, Chase and Nick Hames all saw playing time at running back.

Blacksburg will open the regular season on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Walhalla.