Leemen suffer first loss of the season

STAUNTON – A last-second field goal lifted Turner Ashby to a 31-28 victory over Robert E. Lee on Monday, handing the Leemen their first loss of the season.

The game started with an 80-yard kick return for a touchdown by Terrell Mickens. The Knights answered back with a touchdown of their own, but again the Leemen ran back an 80-yard kick return for a touchdown, this one from Dae’ Quan Scott.

With the score at 14-7, the two teams went into the second quarter. Re’al Wilmott intercepted a Kyle Linn pass for the Leemen. The interception led to a 70-yard touchdown run from Scott. Turner Ashby countered with a touchdown from Cole Hart, sending the teams into halftime.

“About two weeks ago, when we started, the first thing we talked about was believing,” said Turner Ashby coach Charlie Newman. “Lee is a special team with special players, but I’m proud of our guys.”

The Knights’ defense kept the Leemen from reaching the end zone during the third quarter.
“They couldn’t stop our offense totally,” Newman said.
Midway through the third quarter, Linn dove in for the Knights’ third touchdown, tying the game at 21.
“We scored big on big plays,” Newman said. “We had to stop their big plays.”
Lee scored early in the final quarter and took the lead, but not for long. With the Knights in possession, a turnaround pass from Hart was stripped from the hands of the receiver by Lee’s Malcolm Kier, but on the next play the Leemen fumbled, giving the ball back to Turner Ashby. The Knights weren’t about to waste any more time turning the ball over, and scored within the next couple of plays, again tying the game.

After the Leemen were forced to punt, the Knights were working their way down the field again. With the clock winding down to the final seconds, Turner Ashby sent in kicker Gerry Casey to attempt a field goal.

“We never lost focus,” Newman said. “I had a ton of faith in Gerry. He was all smiles and giggles and ready to go.”
Casey came through with 3.5 seconds left, sending the ball through the uprights.
“The kids were telling me that we were going to score,” Newman said. “We wanted to leave [Lee] as little time as possible.”