2011 Gretna 27 - Giles 7 Regional Playoffs.

11/18/2011 A wing and a prayer not enough for Giles The Spartans manage more offensive yards against Gretna but can't contain the big plays. By Ryan Trapp Special to The Roanoke Times PEARISBURG - Giles' single wing offense fell flat Friday against the Gretna Hawks of Pittsylvania County, who relied on their staunch defense to muscle out a 27-7 victory over the Spartans. Gretna's big defensive front was too much for coach Jeff Williams' Spartans and their power run game, forcing Giles to implement its rarely used passing game. Hawks linebacker Tony Miller took advantage of this, picking off senior Brad Kessinger's fist pass attempt and returning it 46 yards for a touchdown. Gretna (10-2) would double its score on its next possession, with senior running back Kevin Moorman taking it in from 2 yards out DIVISION 2 The Spartans WEST SEC. (10-2) actually Gretna 27 outgained Gretna on offense, posting 274 yards compared with just 190, but the Hawks managed to take advantage of big plays on defense and turnovers to come away with a road victory. "We've been really good defensively all year," said Gretna head coach Kevin Saunders. "Our defensive line is one of the best around. We played our butts off." • Kessigner put on a valiant performance in his last game for the Spartans, rushing for 143 yards on 32 attempts. He also connected with junior Garrett Lee 19 yards downfield in the fourth for his team's only score, capping a drive in which Giles converted on three fourth downs. "We challenged our kids during the second half to block a little more physical, a little tougher," Williams said. "They've got a tough physical defense, and they're quick, too. You need to stay on your blocks longer and drive them further, and I think we did that a little better in the second half." The touchdown put Giles in position t to mount a comeback, and momentum seemed to be swinging the Spartans' way. But their late-game magic fell flat when Kessinger's pass on fourth-and-long fell incomplete. Hawks quarterback Dyon Rosser quashed any hopes for a Spartans comeback two plays later, taking the ball 60 yards up the middle to pay dirt, putting the game out of reach for Williams' squad. Tony Miller struck again on the game's final play when the senior scooped up a fumble and took it 80 yards the other way for his second defensive touchdown of the game. "We had a terrific season, a great season," Williams said. "We had a really good group of senior kids that led us this and they really put us in year, a position to be playing in this game and be district champions." Kessinger was just one of the 15 seniors who've played their last game in a Spartans uniform. "This is the greatest group of guys I ever played with," Kessinger said. "I love all of them to death, and they were playing their hearts out there along with me. We've put in hard work all season long." 0 14 0 13-27 Gretna Giles 0 7-7 Gr Miller interception return 46 (Canare kick) Gr - Moorman 2 run (Canare kick) Gi Lee 19 pass from Kessinger (Keaton kick) Gr - Rosser 60 run (Canare kick) Gr Miller fumble return 80 (no kick, time expired) GR GI First downs 11 20 Yards rushing 142 219 Passes C-A-1 5-7-1 4-11-1 Yards passing 48 55 Penalties-yards 4-30 0-0 Fumbles lost 2-0 4-3 Punts average 3-29 1-41 Individual statistics RUSHING - Gretna, Rosser 17-118, Moorman 4-3, Miller 3-14, Pannell 1-2, Chambers 1-5. Giles, Kessinger 32-143, Mitchell 22- 55, Lee 5-17, Vaught 1-4 PASSING Gretna, Rosser 5-7-1, 48 yards. Giles, Kessinger 4-11-1, 55 yards RECEIVING - Gretna, Pannell 1-12, Miller 3-36. Giles, Albert -2-19, Lee 1-19, Collins 1-17.