Wilson hangs on

FISHERSVILLE — Freshman Malik Rucks scampered 40 yards for a late touchdown and Wilson overcame two late Luray defensive touchdowns to escape with a 31-27 non-district win to celebrate Homecoming at the Hive on Friday.

Rucks ran over left tackle, was hit at the Luray 35 and broke free for the touchdown that gave Wilson Memorial (3-2, 0-0 Southern Valley) the win.

“We challenged [Malik] before that series and he responded,” Wilson coach Derek McDaniel said. “Everyone thought he was tackled after a 5-yard gain, but the kid slipped and Malik just kept going.”

Rucks was the workhorse, finishing with 139 yards on 26 carries as the Green Hornets dominated everything but the scoreboard.

Wilson held the football for over 19 of the 24 minutes in the second half, but was still outscored by the Bulldogs after intermission.

“It seemed like we had the ball all night,” McDaniel said “We had 73 offensive plays and that’s a lot for a high school football team.”

Luray (1-3, 0-0 Shenandoah) took advantage of several key Green Hornet mistakes to make a game of it.

The Bulldogs’ Dusty Griffith intercepted a Jake Bailey pass at Luray’s 2-yard line and took it all the way to the house for a 98-yard touchdown as the visitors pulled to within 21-13 with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

Then, after Wilson’s Grant Sauer nailed a 33-yard field goal to open the final frame, Luray’s Will Logan recovered a Bailey fumble at the host’s 20, and fired a TD pass to teammate Garrett Cook on the next play. The two combined for the 2-point conversion to cut Wilson’s lead to 24-21.

The lead didn’t last as another Wilson fumble after the ensuing kickoff resulted in a 20-yard recovery touchdown run by Daniel Runyon. The two scores in less than 10 seconds quieted the Homecoming crowd and Luray looked to take control of the game, 27-24.

That’s when another Wilson freshman, Ricky Hanger stepped up. He blocked the extra point to keep the Bulldogs’ lead to three.

Wilson needed some Homecoming magic and Rucks and senior Max Nobles provided the fireworks. Nobles picked up 16 yards on a fake punt on fourth-and-five from Wilson’s 41-yard line and Rucks finished off the drive with his score.

Hanger proved to be the difference once again as he recovered a fumble deep in Wilson territory to preserve the win. Teammates Cory Miller and Nobles combined on the sack that sprung the loose ball.

“Big plays can kill you,” Wilson’s Weston Cash said after the game. “They can change the whole momentum. But our defense really stepped up tonight.”

Cash led the defense with 12 tackles – including seven solo.

After allowing Luray a 7-0 lead on a Logan 14-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Mayes, Wilson’s Connery Swift scored on runs of 10 and 2 yards and Bailey added a one-yard sneak as the Hornets took a 21-7 lead into the locker room.

Swift finished with exactly 100 yards on 16 carries.

“Our defense really played well,” McDaniel said. “The D really just gave up two big plays and [Luray] only got 21 yards on the ground.”