Last-minute interception sinks Appomattox

Robert Stocks
Published: November 15, 2008

BERRYVILLE — Clarke County proved it could overcome adversity in Friday night’s Region B, Division II football playoff game against Appomattox.
The Eagles overcame three turnovers and a momentum swinging score by the Raiders that cut Clarke County’s lead to 20-19 at the half, but Clarke senior Tyler Morley sealed it by intercepting Kenny Scott’s pass in the end zone with 55 seconds left to help Clarke hold off Appomattox 27-19 at Wilbur M. Feltner Stadium.
“I knew we had to step up and it was a close game,” Morley said. “I knew I had to just do it and pick up the team. ... I read (Thomas’) eyes and I knew when it was coming so I turned around and just jumped up and got it.”
Morley’s interception helped the Eagles (9-2) post their first playoff win since 1990. Clarke, the Bull Run District champions and No. 2 seed, moves on to next week’s regional championship at top-seeded Gretna (11-0), which defeated Madison County 36-0 in Friday night’s other semifinal.
Appomattox (8-3) had one final chance after forcing Clarke County to punt with just over four minutes left in the game.
Thomas returned Ben Sipe’s punt 25 yards to the Appomattox 45 with 4:17 to go.
Scott carried twice, breaking free for six yards and then another three-yard gain before limping off the field after setting up a 3rd-and-two at the Clarke 37.
An illegal procedure penalty pushed the Raiders back five more yards, but sophomore Joe Reed broke free for a 16-yard gain down to the Eagles’ 26.
With just under two minutes left, Scott, who rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, returned after missing one play.
After a three-yard run by Reed, Scott looked for Thomas in the end zone, but Morley read the play and leaped in front of Thomas to intercept the pass in the end zone with just 55 seconds to go.
“There was two situations that we had them on fourth-and-long and they scored or we gave up big passes,” Appomattox County coach Ben Martin said. “That’s just mental mistakes, plain and simple. We just had too many mental mistakes tonight.”