By Brandie Gay
On a cold Thursday night at Van-Far, the Indians took to the field for their final regular season game against Scotland County. The cold temperature did not deter the fans from filling the stands, eager to see their team finish the season on a high note.
From the first whistle, it was clear that Van-Far was determined to dominate. Tyson Douglas set the tone early, breaking through Scotland County’s defense with a series of powerful runs including an 80-yard touchdown on the first play. By the end of the night, Douglas had amassed an impressive 225 yards on 16 carries, including a spectacular touchdown that had the Indians crowd roaring.
Evan Utterback was equally relentless, adding 77 yards on 12 carries and scoring a crucial touchdown on a botched punt, scoring from the 1-yard line. Quarterback Reece Culwell showcased his versatility, rushing for 46 yards on 7 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Culwell also completed a 27-yard pass, despite facing tough interceptions from Scotland County.
The defense was a fortress, with Isaac Wardlow and Carson Huff each intercepting the ball twice, stopping Scotland County’s advances. Gibson Condie recovered a fumble, adding to the defensive highlights. Huff was a standout with five tackles, while Cayden Douglas, Tyson Douglas, Wardlow, and Easton Sharp each contributed two tackles. Dalton Hays, Jackson Fischer, and Utterback were relentless, each recording three tackles and two tackles for loss. Pacey Reading also made his mark with a crucial tackle.
As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard reflected Van-Far’s hard-fought victory with a score of 28-10. The team celebrated on the field, knowing they had given their all and ended the regular season with a memorable win bringing their record to an outstanding 7 – 2. The fans cheered, proud of their team’s performance and were excited for what lay ahead in the postseason. The Indians clinched a first-round bye for Districts play, and will have home field advantage for the game against Hayti on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 pm.