VARDAMAN — A questionable call and busted play loom large in the aftermath of the Vardaman Rams’ 24-22 win over in-county rival Bruce Trojans on Thursday night.
Sophomore quarterback Reed Gregory hit freshman receiver Shaq Bush for a 71-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter that sent the Bruce fans and players into a frenzy on the sidelines.
While coaches tried to keep their players on the sidelines, the official threw a flag for excessive celebration backing the Trojans up to the 18-yard line for the game-tying two-point conversion.
Vardaman got pressure on Gregory and forced him out of the pocket where he threw a strike to Justin Green to tie the ball game at 24-24, but a flag at the 20-yard line quickly silenced the Trojan faithful.
The officials ruled Gregory had crossed the line of scrimmage while scrambling to avoid the Vardaman pressure, but the video replay after the game strongly suggests Gregory released the ball from the 19-yard line resulting in a successful conversion attempt.
Of course, there is no video review in high school football.
The Bruce sideline was flagged with unsportsmanlike conduct after the play and was forced to replay the down from 43-yard line after the additional yardage was added to the illegal forward pass penalty.
Gregory was forced to step up in the pocket to avoid the rush, but the pass was knocked down by a Vardaman defensive back to conserve their two-point advantage.
Bruce attempted an on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the ball fell a yard shy of the minimum 10-yard mark allowing Vardaman to take a knee and escape the Trojans’ furious comeback to pick up the 24-22 victory.
Determination defines Lee’s night for Vardaman
Willie Lee emerged from Thursday’s night game as the go-to-guy in the Rams’ running game this season.
The senior running back finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, but it was the determined running and demand for the football with the game on the line that impressed the Vardaman coaches the most.
“When we got close to the end zone he told us he wanted the football and he proved he wanted it the way he ran the ball for us,” said Vardaman head coach Justin Hollis.
Lee scored on rushing touchdowns on 14 and 4 yards, but it was the effort made on his 4-yard run that defined his night.
On second-and-goal Lee bounced to the outside to avoid a Bruce defender, but run into four other defenders at the one-yard line where he powered through the waiting defense for the score.
“That’s what you call determination,” said Hollis about the scoring run.
He also added six yards receiving on one reception on the night.
Busted play early gives Bruce a shot late.
Gregory guided the Trojans offense down the field hitting on three-of-three passing and capping off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, but it was a play by Tiny Moore that proved to be a major factor later in the game.
A botched snap on the extra-point attempt sent Moore scrambling to his left where he lobbed a pass to Benjamin Williams to turn a near disaster into two points.
Two points that you take away from the scoreboard and you are looking at the two teams going through the motions in the final quarter of play verses battling to the final horn for the win.
Vardaman owns first half, Bruce owns second half.
Senior quarterback Austin Spann scored on a 20-yard run at the 8:54 mark of the first quarter and Arsenio Lee returned an interception 75-yads for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first quarter to take a 12-0 lead after a failed kick and two-point conversion.
The Rams tacked on a 14-yard run from Willie Lee with 2:26 left before halftime to take an 18-0 lead into the break.
Bruce came out strong to cut the Rams’ lead in half with the 2-yard run from Gregory and two-point conversion by Moore. Vardaman countered with a 4-yard scoring run from Willie Lee midway through the fourth quarter, but the final six minutes of the night belonged to the Trojans.
Coach Ray dialed up a halfback pass that saw Zay Armstrong find a wide open Bush for a 65-yard scoring strike to give the Trojan sidelines a shot of confidence that led to a 71-yard scoring toss to Bush from Gregory in the final minutes of the game.
“You remember how I said I am looking forward to the next few years with this group of guys? I can’t say that anymore because I looking forward to tomorrow with these guys after tonight,” said Bruce head coach James Ray.
Vardaman and Bruce by the numbers.
Vardaman totaled 230 yards of offense while Bruce tallied 323 total yards.
The Rams rushed for 216 yards before a 102-yard effort from Willie Lee, 56 yards from Spann, Bobo Whaley rushed for 19, and Tay Ewing added 18 yards to the ground attack.
Bruce was led by Lumberton transfer Nick Smith who rushed for a team-high 71 yards, Demetrius Evans impressed with 54 yards rushing, Gregory had 10 yards, Zavious Armstrong 8, Davis Brown 5, and DeAngelo Poindexter added 1 yard to the ground attack.
Vardaman worked the clock for majority of the second half as Spann was limited passing attempts as he connected with three different receivers on the night for 14 yards. Wille Ewing had 7 yards receiving, Willie Lee had 6 while Arsenio Lee added 1 yard.
The Trojans used two different quarterbacks to pass for 162 yards connecting with six different receivers on the night. Bush led the way with 136 yards, Rashad Turner 10, Ted Esom 9, and Green had 7 yards on the night.
Vardaman was flagged with 85 yards in penalties while Bruce was hit with 55.
All stats unofficial until Tuesday.
In their own words.
Here what Coach Justin Hollis and Coach James Ray had to say after the game Thursday night.
Check out a brief look at some of the first quarter action between Vardaman and Bruce.
