September 29, 2007.
Homecoming and Senior’s Night saw the Disciples once again overcome a halftime deficit with a strong second half to defeat the Chincoteague Ponies 22-10. Behind an offense that rushed for over 200 yards, led by Mike Durrette’s 130 yards and 2 touchdowns, and a stifling defense that allowed only 1 touchdown and pitched a second half shutout, the Disciples improved their record to 5-1.
The night began with a moving tribute to Bob Barner, a Virginia State Police trooper who died 10 years ago of brain cancer. Mr. Barner played football for Liberty University and his three sons, Dan, Joshua and Jeremiah, all play for the Disciples. Friday night was the last home game for Dan, a senior. The color guard of the Virginia State Police presented the colors before the game, and several of Mr. Barner’s former State Police colleagues were in attendance.
The first quarter began for the Disciples like the second half of the Portsmouth Christian game. The Disciples defense got a quick turnover when Jared Simmons recovered a fumble, and the offense moved the ball steadily down the field running the ball up the middle. Mike Durrette finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The conversion attempt failed, and Disciples had a 6-0 lead.
The Ponies responded and moved the ball deep into Disciples territory on their next drive. When a 4th down run by the Ponies came up 12 inches short, the Disciples took over on downs on their own 5-yard line. The Ponies scored their first points, however, when the Disciples pitchout went awry. Although the Disciples recovered the fumble in the end zone, it was a safety for the Ponies, closing the score to 6-2. That was how the 1st quarter ended.
The Ponies scored the only touchdown of the 2nd quarter, on a well-thrown 35-yard pass from quarterback Jason Tolbert that hit receiver Matt Clark in stride and he carried it into the end zone for the score. Tolbert then ran in the 2-point conversion and the Ponies took a 10-6 lead. Although the Disciples moved the ball consistently on offense, they were unable to put any points on the board in the 2nd quarter. The Disciples defense contributed to the scoring, however, as they recorded a safety late in the half on a play similar to the Ponies’ safety. The Ponies mishandled a handoff near the goal line and recovered in their own end zone, tightening the halftime score to 10-8.
At halftime, the Disciples honored their 9 seniors and their parents. This years seniors include Dan Barner, Mike Durrette, David Harner, Josh Harris, Michael Harvey, Kevin Metzger, David Norfleet, James Schlueter and Levi Scott. This is an outstanding group of young men who have provided tremendous leadership over the past 3 years, and this year have led the team to its best season yet.
On the Ponies first possession of the second half, the Disciples defense came up with another key takeaway, as linebacker Dan Barner made a spectacular one-handed interception of a Jason Tolbert pass and returned it to the Ponies 26-yard line. The Disciples offense then drove down to the 2-yard line and took the lead when quarterback Nathan Hollis rolled to his right and hit a wide-open Kevin Metzger in the end zone. The extra point conversion was unsuccessful but the Disciples had regained the lead, 14-10.
This set the stage for another exciting, nerve-wracking 4th quarter. With both defenses hitting hard and playing well, neither team was able to score until the final 2 minutes of the game. The Disciples, who had taken over on downs on the Ponies 46 after another great defensive stop, moved the ball down into Ponies territory. The drive appeared stalled however, as the Disciples faced a 4th and 11 on the Ponies 20-yard line with just under 2 minutes to go. Throughout the game the Ponies defense did a good job of taking away the outside runs, screen passes and downfield passes that the Disciples had used so effectively in their comeback win at Portsmouth Christian last week. On this play, with the Ponies looking for a sweep or a pass, the Disciples crossed them up by running a counter play up the middle. The offensive line opened a hole and Mike Durrette shot through it, running by and through the Ponies secondary for a game-clinching 20-yard touchdown. Josh Harris added an exclamation point as he flattened a Ponies linebacker at the goal line in scoring the 2-point conversion for a 22-10 lead.
The Disciples defense made one final stop. With all 3 Barner brothers playing together for the first time this season, the defense held the Ponies for 4 downs. David Norfleet and Justin Thomas each recorded a sack and two Ponies pass attempts were incomplete. The Disciples offense then downed the ball on the final play, and the team had another hard-fought victory.
The Disciples defense dominated the game, allowing only 1 touchdown, scoring a safety and coming up with 2 takeaways, each of which led to a touchdown. Although the Ponies offense made several good plays, it was never able to mount a sustained scoring drive. The Ponies defense, which was obviously well-prepared for the game, limited the ability of the Disciples to run some of their more successful plays from last week, and the Disciples also had to overcome injuries to two offensive line starters in the 1st quarter. Nevertheless, the offense effectively pounded the ball inside for 222 rushing yards. Mike Durrette led the way with 130 yards on 19 carries, and Josh Harris added 55 yards on 12 carries.
After the game, the 2 teams met at midfield and Disciples Coach Dave Hollis led the teams in prayer. The Disciples also expressed their appreciation to the Chincoteague team and it coaches and their fans for making the long journey to play the Disciples. Because of the geographic location of Chincoteague, the Ponies face some of the same obstacles as the Disciples. With the closest high school over 50 miles away, they travel far and wide for their games. Friday’s game started 20 minutes late to allow the Ponies time for pre-game warm-ups because their bus was delayed by traffic on I-64 coming to the game.
Before the game, the Enon Athletic Association, whose beautiful, well-maintained football field serves as the Disciples home field, presented the team with a $1,000 donation. The team very much appreciates their support.
The Disciples drew their largest crowd of the season, as many in the Richmond area home school community turned out to cheer on the team. After playing virtually all its games on the road the first two seasons, it is a great encouragement to the team to have a large home crowd of enthusiastic fans cheering for them.
Homecoming and Senior’s Night saw the Disciples once again overcome a halftime deficit with a strong second half to defeat the Chincoteague Ponies 22-10. Behind an offense that rushed for over 200 yards, led by Mike Durrette’s 130 yards and 2 touchdowns, and a stifling defense that allowed only 1 touchdown and pitched a second half shutout, the Disciples improved their record to 5-1.
The night began with a moving tribute to Bob Barner, a Virginia State Police trooper who died 10 years ago of brain cancer. Mr. Barner played football for Liberty University and his three sons, Dan, Joshua and Jeremiah, all play for the Disciples. Friday night was the last home game for Dan, a senior. The color guard of the Virginia State Police presented the colors before the game, and several of Mr. Barner’s former State Police colleagues were in attendance.
The first quarter began for the Disciples like the second half of the Portsmouth Christian game. The Disciples defense got a quick turnover when Jared Simmons recovered a fumble, and the offense moved the ball steadily down the field running the ball up the middle. Mike Durrette finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The conversion attempt failed, and Disciples had a 6-0 lead.
The Ponies responded and moved the ball deep into Disciples territory on their next drive. When a 4th down run by the Ponies came up 12 inches short, the Disciples took over on downs on their own 5-yard line. The Ponies scored their first points, however, when the Disciples pitchout went awry. Although the Disciples recovered the fumble in the end zone, it was a safety for the Ponies, closing the score to 6-2. That was how the 1st quarter ended.
The Ponies scored the only touchdown of the 2nd quarter, on a well-thrown 35-yard pass from quarterback Jason Tolbert that hit receiver Matt Clark in stride and he carried it into the end zone for the score. Tolbert then ran in the 2-point conversion and the Ponies took a 10-6 lead. Although the Disciples moved the ball consistently on offense, they were unable to put any points on the board in the 2nd quarter. The Disciples defense contributed to the scoring, however, as they recorded a safety late in the half on a play similar to the Ponies’ safety. The Ponies mishandled a handoff near the goal line and recovered in their own end zone, tightening the halftime score to 10-8.
At halftime, the Disciples honored their 9 seniors and their parents. This years seniors include Dan Barner, Mike Durrette, David Harner, Josh Harris, Michael Harvey, Kevin Metzger, David Norfleet, James Schlueter and Levi Scott. This is an outstanding group of young men who have provided tremendous leadership over the past 3 years, and this year have led the team to its best season yet.
On the Ponies first possession of the second half, the Disciples defense came up with another key takeaway, as linebacker Dan Barner made a spectacular one-handed interception of a Jason Tolbert pass and returned it to the Ponies 26-yard line. The Disciples offense then drove down to the 2-yard line and took the lead when quarterback Nathan Hollis rolled to his right and hit a wide-open Kevin Metzger in the end zone. The extra point conversion was unsuccessful but the Disciples had regained the lead, 14-10.
This set the stage for another exciting, nerve-wracking 4th quarter. With both defenses hitting hard and playing well, neither team was able to score until the final 2 minutes of the game. The Disciples, who had taken over on downs on the Ponies 46 after another great defensive stop, moved the ball down into Ponies territory. The drive appeared stalled however, as the Disciples faced a 4th and 11 on the Ponies 20-yard line with just under 2 minutes to go. Throughout the game the Ponies defense did a good job of taking away the outside runs, screen passes and downfield passes that the Disciples had used so effectively in their comeback win at Portsmouth Christian last week. On this play, with the Ponies looking for a sweep or a pass, the Disciples crossed them up by running a counter play up the middle. The offensive line opened a hole and Mike Durrette shot through it, running by and through the Ponies secondary for a game-clinching 20-yard touchdown. Josh Harris added an exclamation point as he flattened a Ponies linebacker at the goal line in scoring the 2-point conversion for a 22-10 lead.
The Disciples defense made one final stop. With all 3 Barner brothers playing together for the first time this season, the defense held the Ponies for 4 downs. David Norfleet and Justin Thomas each recorded a sack and two Ponies pass attempts were incomplete. The Disciples offense then downed the ball on the final play, and the team had another hard-fought victory.
The Disciples defense dominated the game, allowing only 1 touchdown, scoring a safety and coming up with 2 takeaways, each of which led to a touchdown. Although the Ponies offense made several good plays, it was never able to mount a sustained scoring drive. The Ponies defense, which was obviously well-prepared for the game, limited the ability of the Disciples to run some of their more successful plays from last week, and the Disciples also had to overcome injuries to two offensive line starters in the 1st quarter. Nevertheless, the offense effectively pounded the ball inside for 222 rushing yards. Mike Durrette led the way with 130 yards on 19 carries, and Josh Harris added 55 yards on 12 carries.
After the game, the 2 teams met at midfield and Disciples Coach Dave Hollis led the teams in prayer. The Disciples also expressed their appreciation to the Chincoteague team and it coaches and their fans for making the long journey to play the Disciples. Because of the geographic location of Chincoteague, the Ponies face some of the same obstacles as the Disciples. With the closest high school over 50 miles away, they travel far and wide for their games. Friday’s game started 20 minutes late to allow the Ponies time for pre-game warm-ups because their bus was delayed by traffic on I-64 coming to the game.
Before the game, the Enon Athletic Association, whose beautiful, well-maintained football field serves as the Disciples home field, presented the team with a $1,000 donation. The team very much appreciates their support.
The Disciples drew their largest crowd of the season, as many in the Richmond area home school community turned out to cheer on the team. After playing virtually all its games on the road the first two seasons, it is a great encouragement to the team to have a large home crowd of enthusiastic fans cheering for them.
By Dave Watson
