Full report: Albemarle/Riverbend

BY JUSTIN RICE

The word written in Riverbend’s locker room summarizes succinctly the Bears’ attitude for the second half of the season: Finish.

Finish the play. Finish the game. Finish the season.

Riverbend (2–7, 2–5) finished last night against Albemarle, scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns—both by running back Maurice Gary—for a 20–19 win against the Patriots.

“[It would have been easy] to fold their tents, yes they could have,” Bears coach Todd Campbell said. “They found a way to finish tonight. That’s a tribute to them. They haven’t quit.”

The Bears had help.

Albemarle (1–8, 1–6) fumbled twice—both recovered by the Bears’ Kevon McNeil—leading to the first and last of Riverbend’s touchdowns.

The second came midway in the fourth quarter, and gave the Bears—trailing 

19–13 at the time—the ball at Albemarle’s 38.

Riverbend needed eight plays to take advantage, seven by way of Gary’s legs.

His 13-yard carry from the 18 gave the Bears first-and-goal, and his 1-yard plunge over the middle on fourth down tied the game and led to Chris Beer’s game-winning extra point.

 “I credit the whole line,” Gary said. “We had to fight for this one. We never wanted to give up. Not at all.”

Albemarle opened the game with a crisp eight-play scoring drive, capped by Lee Carneal’s 1-yard quarterback sneak.

 Albemarle’s first fumble set Riverbend up at the Patriots’ 32, and Gary scored from 8 yards out.

 Albemarle took the lead again on a second-quarter fake punt, with Carneal hitting a wide-open Kevin Gaines for a 51-yard score. The Patriots extended their advantage to 19–7 following a Riverbend interception on the second play of the third quarter.

The Bears started their comeback early in the fourth, using a solid punt return to start in great field position. They handed off to Gary

five straight times to close 

to 19–13.

“We have a lot of heart,”  McNeil said. “We made a lot of big plays when we needed to.

“We’re showing, even though our record might be bad, we’re coming back. We’re coming back hard for next year.”

Albemarle 7 6 6 0 — 19

Riverbend 0 7 0 13 — 20

First Quarter

Al-L. Carneal 1-yard run (J. Anderson kick)

Second Quarter

Rb-M. Gary 8-yard run (C. Beer kick)

Al-K. Gaines 51-yard pass from L. Carneal (kick failed)

Third Quarter

Al-E. Mackay 1-yard run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter

Rb-M. Gary 6-yard run (kick failed)

Rb-M. Gary 1-yard run (C. Beer kick)

TEAMSTATISTICS

Al Rb

First downs9 10

Rushing yardage34-122 43-173

Passing yardage91 27

Passes6-14-0 5-10-1

Punts-Avg.4-33.0 5-24.2

Fumbles-lost3-2 0-0

Penalties-yards3-15 3-15

INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Rushing: Riverbend—Maurice Gary 23-89, 3TD; Brian Gaines 14-67; Dakota Drain 4-7; Mitchell Munsell 1-5; Steven  Sarver 1-5. Albemarle—Nick Troche 9-44; Lee Carneal 10-30, TD; Major Jackson 2-25; Joe Anderson 12-22; Eli Mackay 1-1, TD.

Passing: Riverbend—Colin Douglas 3-5-0 13; Eric Byrd 2-5-1 14. Albemarle—Lee Carneal 6-14-0 91, TD.

Receiving: Riverbend—Jaymz Jackson 2-15; Brian Gaines 1-6; Dakota Drain 2-6. Albemarle—Kevin Gaines 1-51, TD; A.J. Willy 1-19; David Seago 3-12; Timothy Aker 1-9.

 Justin Rice: 540/368-5045

jrice@freelancestar.com

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