M.S. ROUNDUP: Table Rock claims FAC football crown

The Table Rock Middle football team capped a perfect season with a 44-18 Foothills Athletic Conference victory against visiting Liberty in Monday’s makeup game.

Falcons’ fullback Mark Biggerstaff raced 50 yards for an opening touchdown, and halfback B.J. Emmons followed with a 48-yard rush before Biggerstaff added the conversion run. TRMS wideout T.J. Benjamin then caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nigel Moore, and Emmons had the conversion run.

The Falcons (6-0 FAC) added two defensive scores in the second frame, as Russell Cuthbertson forced a fumble on a LMS kickoff then scooped up the ball and rumbled 45 yards for a TD. Jefferson caught a pass from Moore for the PAT.

Biggerstaff intercepted a Knights’ pass and scampered 62 yards for the final score of the opening half before Moore’s conversion run put the Falcons up 38-18 at the half.

Biggerstaff added a 3-yard run in the third quarter.

Table Rock’s offense accumulated 347 yards with Emmons (eight carries, 127 yards), Biggerstaff (six carries, 89 yards) and Moore (4 for 4 passing, 81 yards) leading the way. The Falcon defense was led by Austin Fisher (11 tackles), Steven Beck (six), Emmons (five) and Biggerstaff (five).

Liberty QB Peyton Mull scored two touchdowns while running back Dustin Crump tallied the third.

“The final score was not indicative of the competitiveness of the game,” said LMS assistant coach Mark Hardin. “These two long-time rivals left it all on the field. We played very hard and put out one of our best showings of the year against a strong Table Rock team.”

The Knights’ defense was led by Hampton Brown, Austin Willingham, Chase Carpenter, Riley Caraway, Daxton Bostian and Daulton Tallent.

Hardin added, “The defensive front (Matt Dale, Evan Diab and Jason Basnett) played strong along the line of scrimmage, while linebacker Matt Curtis made solid tackles as did Cade Pearson and Cody Nelson.”

Liberty (1-4) hosts Heritage in Thursday’s season finale.

Walter R. Johnson 24, Heritage 8 — Josh Rutherford, Nick Dumaine and Tyler Hodges ran for scores as the Yellow Jackets’ rushing attack powered the team on Monday in Valdese.

 “We limited Josh’s rushes, so we let Tyler start,” said WJMS coach Marlon Grier. “The offensive line was led by Edwin Solis, Manuel Diaz, Aaron Strawser, Jerry Mullins and Kenray Edwards.”

The Jackets’ stingy defense was led by Solis, Marcus Hawkins, Rutherford, Dumaine, Lane Dula and Diaz. Safety Ethan Roper and cornerback Austin Butler each had an interception.

“Marcus had a huge loss on Sunday when his mother passed away,” Grier added, “but he had an outstanding game. It was hard, but he managed to get through it. We, as a staff, and his teammates are proud of his determination and will.”

WJMS (3-2 FAC) closes the season with a home game versus East McDowell.

Boys soccer

Heritage 3, East Burke 3 (Eagles win 3-0 in PKs) — The Eagles connected on their first three opportunities in penalty kicks to knock off rival East Burke on Monday at Draughn High.

Heritage jumped out to a 1-0 led when Andrew Lilly scored off a cross from Abraham Sagaon at the 8:15 mark. The Eagles struck again with less than a minute remaining in the half when Jordan Murphy scored off an assist from Sagaon for a 2-0 halftime advantage.

East’s Steve Lee cut the margin in half with an early goal in the second half, but Sagaon answered quickly with a score from 15 yards out (assist by Xiong Thao) to put the Eagles up 3-1. EB used the larger field to tally back-to-back goals from Ryan Xiong and Lee (49:30), tying the game 3-3 after regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, the Eagles' Murphy and Alex Parker Lilly scored one PK each while goalkeeper Daniel Purcell blocked each of the Raiders' attempts to preserve the HMS victory.

Lee was named the “Raider of the Game.”

Girls soccer

East Burke 1, Heritage 0 — The Lady Raiders squeaked out a victory against Heritage on Monday in a makeup game played at Draughn High.

Heritage’s Katrina Huffman scored the lone goal, while keeper Kirsten Townsend recorded the shutout.

“My girls did a great job and pulled out a win,” said EBMS coach Eli Waters. “They really didn't like it when I told them they were playing on a bigger field (at Draughn). But everyone played hard and did their job.”