Blacksburg running back Chase Hames searches for daylight Friday as fullback Jeff Daves blocks downfield during first half action in a 38-15 loss to Indian Land. Photo by SCOTT POWELL With several starters on the sidelines, Blacksburg couldn’t keep pace Friday with Indian Land’s dynamic duo Rondreus Truesdale and Breyon Williams in a 38-15 loss.

Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Truesdale threw a pair of touchdown passes to wide receiver Jarrell Robinson as Indian Land took advantage of a shorthanded Blacksburg defense missing five starters.

“We knew the key to the Indian Land game was stopping 30 (Rondreus Truesdale) and 11 (Breyon Williams) their two stud running backs. They are as good a pair of running backs as we will face all season,” Blacksburg football coach Mickey Moss said. “Indian Land hit on a couple big plays, and we didn’t tackle real well.”

Things started promising for Blacksburg against Indian Land.

Running back Chase Hames scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on the game’s first possession to cap an 11 play, 70-yard drive. Nick Hames had a 2-point conversion run off a trick play for a 8-0 Blacksburg lead five minutes into the game.

Indian Land took advantage of several Blacksburg turnovers and poor tackling on their way to a 21-8 halftime lead.

Truesdale threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Robinson to cut the lead to 8-7 on Indian Land’s first possession. The Warriors took a 14- 8 lead on a 17-yard run by Truesdale with 2:12 left in the second quarter.

For the second week in a row, Blacksburg gave up a touchdown just before halftime.

Truesdale escaped the grasp of a blitzing defender and scampered 31 yards for a first and goal. He threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with 47 seconds left in the second quarter to give Indian Land a two-touchdown lead.

Williams scored on touchdown runs of 43- and 7-yards for a 35-8 Indian Land lead with 3:36 seconds left in the third quarter.

Blacksburg sophomore running back Ethan Snipes got loose for a

Wildcats

42-yard run on the Wildcats’ next series.

Snipes appeared on his way to score, but fumbled when his arm was hit by an Indian Land defender just before he reached the goal line. The ball rolled out of the end zone, allowing Indian Land to regain possession at the 20-yard line.

Snipes hurt his arm on the play and did not return. The Wildcats finished the game with 20 players.

Blacksburg did score a late touchdown when Chase Hames scored on a 25-yard run with 1:49 left in the game. Chase Hames also threw a 36-yard flea flicker pass to Nick Hames on the scoring drive.

Moss said he needs his team back at full-strength in order to be successful.

“I’ve never seen as many injuries as we’ve had this season,” Moss said. “We lost five starters before the game started and lost another one on game day. We dressed 25 players for the game and finished with 20 players. This really limited what we could do offensively.”

Blacksburg (0-2) will travel to play Latta on Friday in a nonregion game.