Holbert Leads Rams to Consecutive Shutout Wins
STRASBURG, VA – Defense and rushing are two attributes of championship teams. The young Rams are starting to find their stride by following this principle. For the second consecutive week, strong defense and a potent rushing attack fueled a victory. Though their record stands at 3-5, the Strasburg Rams are learning how to win.
This past week, they rode the wave of junior Brandon Holbert’s career-high rushing performance and a stellar defense to secure their first district win of the season.
The 27-0 triumph over Madison County (1-6, 0-2 Bull Run) marks the first time this year the Strasburg Rams (3-5, 1-1 Bull Run) have enjoyed consecutive victories. More impressively, these were back-to-back shutouts. Against the Mountaineers, the Rams employed the same winning formula that led to their dominant performance against Massanutten Military Academy. At the heart of this success once again was Holbert.
Madison County’s initial possession was quickly halted. Three plays later, the Mountaineers were forced to punt. Strasburg received the ensuing kick and began their drive at their own 16-yard line. A balanced attack of rushing and passing plays moved the team 84 yards downfield in 19 plays, culminating in Jason Wilkins’ one-yard touchdown run. Holbert was involved in 12 of these plays.
Starting for the second consecutive week, Holbert delivered a career-best performance, making the Madison County defense appear porous. Finding gaps created by his formidable offensive line, the junior running back amassed 116 yards in the first half alone. His blend of speed, deception, and agility propelled Strasburg to a 14-0 halftime lead and allowed the Rams to control the time of possession.
Strasburg’s second touchdown came through the air. Another forced punt gave the Rams possession at their 36-yard line. Three plays later, the team moved into scoring position, aided by Holbert’s effective running.
On the next play, sophomore Parker Neal connected with his wide receiver, Alan Daly, for a 29-yard touchdown pass, extending the team’s lead to two touchdowns at halftime. Neal completed four of eight passes for 46 yards, demonstrating a relatively error-free performance.
In the third quarter, both teams struggled to gain momentum in the muddy conditions. A battle for field position ensued, with neither team posing a significant threat. However, this changed early in the fourth quarter.
After another forced punt, Strasburg gained excellent field position at the 47-yard line. The Rams orchestrated another lengthy drive, reaching the six-yard line. On the next play, fullback Wilkins fumbled at the two-yard line. Fortunately, the ball rolled into the end zone, where it was recovered by Neil Coverstone for Strasburg, increasing their lead to 21-0.
The Rams added their final points with just 1:55 remaining in the game. Jonah Rodriques recovered a Mountaineer fumble at the 30-yard line. Seven plays later, Wilkins redeemed himself with a four-yard touchdown run, his fifth of the season. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful.
Madison County finally reached the red zone on their next possession. Facing the Rams’ reserve defense, the Mountaineers advanced to the four-yard line before being stopped on fourth down.
Overall, Madison County managed only 140 total yards compared to Strasburg’s 347. Holbert led the Rams with 220 rushing yards on 35 carries, both career highs. Wilkins finished with 15 attempts for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Alan Daly caught two passes for 39 yards. Bobby Hendricks and Caylin Valentine each contributed a reception.