It was everything that everyone thought it would be. But there has to be a winner and loser and Homewood rode its defense in the second half to post a 37-27 win over Shades Valley in the ALFCA game of the Week.
Shades Valley led 27-13 at halftime. After Homewood’s TyShawn Buckner streaked 60 yards with a TD pass on Homewood’s first series, Shades Valley responded with an 80 yard run by Trenton Thomas on the first play from scrimmage. After a Homewood punt, SV quarterback Desmond Trotter tossed a 52 yard completion and then ran it in from the 2 yard line to give the Mounties the lead. Homewood’s Lane Gilchrist kicked a 31 yard field goal to close out the first quarter with Shades Valley ahead 14-10.
Shades Valley’s Desmond Trotter is tackled by Homewood’s John Firnberg. Photo credit Mark Almond
A one yard run by Trotter early in the second quarter opened the Mountie lead to 21-10. After another Gilchrist field goal cut the the Shades Valley advantage to 21-13, Trotter hit Kelandre Sanders with A 50 yard toss with 2:35 left in the half. Shades Valley took the 27-13 lead to half time.
“I told them at half time that we could only control us, don’t worry about what they’re doing,” said Homewood Coach Ben Berguson. “We just came out with a lot of heart in the second half.”
Midway through the third quarter Homewood got its passing attack rolling. Quarterback Larkin Williams found junior wide receiver Marcus McGhee on a leaping catch deep in the end zone from 6 yards out. After forcing a Shades Valley punt, Williams connected with senior receiver William Hall on the first play of the next possession, for 80 yards and a score. Suddenly Homewood had tied the game 27-27 with 2:41 left in the 3rd quarter.
Gilchrist, Homewood’s sophomore kicker, put the guests ahead 30-27 with a 38-yard field goal with 9:25 left in the game. The kick finished off a drive set up by an interception from the Patriots’ Chance Hall. The Mountie offense sputtered the rest of the 4th quarter. With 1:42 left in the game, Homewood’s Buckner caught a short pass to make an important first down, but wrestled free on a spectacular run for the final points of the night. The touchdown cinch the win for the Patriots.
Shades Valley Coach David Partridge said,”We didn’t make the plays we needed in the second half. I give Homewood credit. They made the adjustments and won the game. We couldn’t finish.”
Trotter finished 12-18 passing for 183 yards and a touchdown for Shades Valley. Homewood junior runner David Robertson Jr. had a big night, running for 117 yards in the first half alone and finishing with 160 yards on 30 carries. Homewood’s signal caller Williams finished 15-of-23 passing for 281 yards, with TD passes of 60, 6, 80 and 58 yards. Buckner finished with three catches for 130 yards and two scores.
David Robertson runs for Homewood. Photo credit Mark Almond
The win gives Homewood the region championship. Shades Valley will get either the second or third place spot depending on this week’s game with John Carroll and Ramsay’s game with Smith’s Station.