Eastern View drops Madison County

CULPEPER — It’s safe to say that after a handful of turnovers — and a healthy dose of Eastern View running back Stevie Strother — Madison County is ready to move past Friday night’s 34-20 road loss and gear up for Bull Run District play.

“We didn’t execute at all,” said Mountaineers coach Stuart Dean. “When you turn the ball over five times you don’t deserve to win the game.”

Madison, losing for the first time this year, struggled to find an answer to Strother, who ran for 314 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.

“I don’t think you stop him,” Dean said. “He’s going to get his.”

Down 13-6, the Mountaineers nearly tied the game heading into the half, but couldn’t stuff the ball in from the 2-yard line on the final play of the second quarter.

After allowing Eastern View (4-2) to score on its opening drive of the second half, Madison (5-1) cut the deficit to six early in the fourth quarter on a long drive capped by a Devon Boone
1-yard touchdown run.

But not one minute later, Madison was bitten once again by Strother’s 41-yard touchdown run.

“[Strother] can score from anywhere on the field,” said Eastern View coach Greg Hatfield. “He’s a difference maker. He deflates the other team. Madison had some confidence and then he made that long run and took the wind out of the sails.”

It was the third run of the night that the Cyclone back took for at least 40 yards. The speedy senior scored on 71- and 57-yard runs in the first half.

“I think the line blocked great tonight and opened up a lot of holes and I just made the most out of every run,” Strother said.

Logan Terrell led the way on offense for the Mountaineers. The junior had 90 yards on the ground to go with 63 yards in the air including a 26-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Will Taylor.

“We just have to take those turnovers away,” Dean said. “And [we have to work] on our basic fundamental execution. We didn’t do a good job on either side of the ball.”