HS football gallery: Martinsburg 31, Sherando (VA) 28

STEPHENS CITY, Va. — Class AAA defending state champion Martinsburg won a dogfight Friday night on the road over Sherando (VA), 31-28.

“They have a great program and a lot of great players,” said Martinsburg coach Dave Walker. “They’re well coached and they do a great job. We always have trouble with those guys. They’re a good team.”

The Bulldogs (7-0) kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal with just 27 seconds to go from Lucas Duffy, erasing what was overall a 28-21 fourth quarter deficit.

“We were working against the clock,” Walker said of the winning drive. “But Tyson (Bagent) made some big throws and we had a couple of nice runs to get down there. Lucas Duffy, our kicker, nailed it for us. We had big time plays and you have to have guys make plays for you in the end if you’re going to win close ones.”

Jalen Heson returned an interception 40-plus yards for the game’s opening score. Martinsburg has now won 21 straight games.

Sherando fell to 5-2 with the loss.

– Photos courtesy Christopher C. Davis, Clark’s Artistic Photography