Binns shows no fear

Ron Counts, Staff Writer
Published: September 16, 2008

Most middle school teams would probably be a little intimidated facing a high school squad.

Not the Blackhawks from Floyd T. Binns.

Despite a late surge from the Rappahannock County Panthers — whose roster consists of high school freshman as well as 7th- and 8th- graders — the Blackhawks’ running game produced four first-half touchdowns on the way to a 27-12 win on Tuesday.

“We’re going to be a dominant team all year,” Binns coach Kemp Pullin said. “We have an offensive line that lets us really drive the ball.”

The Blackhawks (3-0) racked up 172 rushing yards during the game. On the defensive side, Cody Lillard kept the Panthers at bay, with six solo tackles.

With their team trailing 27-0 at halftime, the Rappahannock cheerleaders implored their team to get into the end zone.

It took until the fourth quarter, but Rappahannock quarterback Matt Nicholson answered the call. He led the Panthers on two scoring drives in the final quarter. One culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass, and the other a 10-yard scoring strike.

But it was too little, too late.

After bulky Blackhawk running back Marcellus Greene lumbered his way into the end zone to open the scoring, Patrick Ross extended Binns’ lead to 13-0 after plunging across the goal line with 2:52 left in the opening quarter.

“We have less speed than we had last year,” Pullin said. “But we have more strength than we had a year ago. We’re going to run a power game because our strength is between the tackles.”

Brandon Settle decided to go against the grain for the Blackhawks’ third score. He faked a handoff and sprinted around the left side of the offensive line for a 25-yard touchdown scamper with 5:43 left in the first half.

After the touchdown, Binns lined up to kick the extra point, but Settle had other plans. He took the snap and sped around the right side for a two-point conversion that put the Blackhawks up 21-0.

Nate Yates — who led Binns with 48 rushing yards — put the Blackhawks on the scoreboard for the final time with a 4-yard touchdown dive behind his imposing offensive line.

Despite their impressive victory, Pullin knows his Blackhawks still have plenty of work to do, especially with Walker-Grant Middle School coming to town next Thursday.

“They’re a much different team than what we saw today,” he said. “They’re much faster, and we’re going to have to play a completely different game.”

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or