Patriot Publishing Staff Report
Playing on a pleasant Friday night in Pearisburg the homestanding Giles Spartans scored early and often en route to a 59-27 homecoming win over the visiting Auburn Eagles.
The two teams entered the game with identical 4-1 records. Both teams had won four consecutive games.
Giles would score on their first five possessions to take a commanding 37-0 lead. Jalen Miller would score on runs of four, 19 and 35 yards. Antonio Wilcoxson scored on a six-yard run, while Luke Humphreys ran it in from 17 yards out for the 37-0 lead.
Auburn would get on the scoreboard with just 48 seconds left before halftime when Isayah Hamann took the handoff and went straight up the middle untouched for a 76-yard jaunt. Eli Olinger’s point after kick had the intermission score at 37-7, Spartans.
Auburn would score to make it 37-14 at the 7:26 mark of the third quarter when James King intercepted a Giles pass and ran it back for a 53-yard touchdown with Kenleigh Smith’s kick.
The Spartans would drive the ball on their next possession, and topped it off with a Wilcoxson nine-yard touchdown as he just ran over a couple of Eagle players. Jacob Mills would pass to Brady Thwaites for the two-point conversion, making the score Giles 45, Auburn 7.
Auburn would strike right back as QB Cameron Branch threw a quick pass to Hamann and he took it to the house for a 63-yard score. Olinger’s kick would make the score 45-21 with 4:56 remaining in the quarter.
Not to be out done, Giles (5-1) would come right back with Miller scoring on a 27-yard run around right end. Will Tickle would make the point after to up the score to 52-21.
Once again the back and forth occurred with Auburn (4-2) scoring with 38 seconds to go in the third. This time Branch hit Ethan Brunk on a 86-yard touchdown strike, but the point after was blocked.
The final score of the game came from Giles as Wilcoxson scored on a nine-yard run and Tickle’s kick made the final score, 59-27.
“My hat’s off to Auburn,” Giles head coach Sam Wright said. “They kept coming back and scoring. They have some really good young athletes. We have to finish games. When you have a team down you have to put them away. I am proud of my team. I think we relaxed up 37-0 and you have to learn from this.”
Giles had 664 total yards with 543 of those yards rushing the ball on 68 carries. Miller scored four touchdowns as he rushed for 201 yards on 21 rushes. Wilcoxson scored three touchdowns as he rushed for 175 yards on 30 carries. He also threw for 121 yards. It was an offensive explosion for the Spartans.
Auburn’s Hamann had 14 carries for 142 yards and scored twice. Branch threw for 157 yards and tossed two touchdowns.
Giles 16 21 15 7 – 59
Auburn 0 7 20 0 -27
Rushing – Giles – Miller 21-201, Wilcoxson 30-175, Humphreys 5-57, Atkins 4-26, Molls 2-62, Tickle 1-11, Wilson 2-9, Nate Steele 3-2, Auburn – Hamann 14-142, Clark 4-18, Branch 4-9, Axline 1- minus ( -3)
Passing – Giles – Wilcoxson – 5-9-1 Int. 0 Tds.-121 yds., Auburn – Branch – 5-13- 1Int. 2 Tds. – 157 yds., Clark 0-1-1 int-0 tds,- 0 yds.
Receptions – Giles – Tickle 2-81, Thwaites 2-45, Noah Steele 1- minus (-3), Auburn -Hamann 1-63, Brunk 3-97, Clark 1 -minus (-3)
First Downs – Giles 32, Auburn 9
Fum. / lost– Giles 4 / 2, Auburn 3 / 2
Penalties – Giles 6-45 yds., Auburn 0 / 0 yds.
Total Yds. – Auburn – 323, Giles – 664
Tot. To’s – Auburn – 4 , Giles 3
Punts / Avg. – Auburn – 3 / 44.3, Giles 0 / 0
