HS Football: Beckley runs over Oak Hill for 49-13 win

Gage Burdette rushes for 219 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Flying Eagles

The last two seasons, Beckley has walked off the football field with narrow losses to Oak Hill.

Friday night at Van Meter Stadium all of those frustrations appeared to spill out in a dominating win for the Flying Eagles.

Led by a stingy defense and another big performance from Gage Burdette, Beckley rolled past the Red Devils, 49-13 on Senior Night.

Coach Sarrett discussed the win over Oak Hill and the opportunity ahead for Beckley to possibly secure a home playoff game.

The home team won the toss, elected to receive and proceeded to march down the field for the game's first score.

Aided by a pass interference penalty Gage Burdette scored with 6:15 to play in the first quarter from just inside the one-yard line.

Beckley had a golden opportunity to double the lead after Oak Hill fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but turned the ball over on downs and the visitors quickly responded.

The Red Devils evened the game on a well orchestrated drive that ended with a three-yard run from Cade Compton at the 1:09 mark of the first quarter.

Beckley wasted no time regaining the lead. however.

Senior Preston Clary took a swing pass from Gage Price and rambled 41 yards for a score just 19 seconds after the Oak Hill touchdown.

The last few minutes of the opening half then turned out to be a game-changer.

Oak Hill appeared destined for a tying score late in the second period, but a big defensive stand at its own three-yard line gave Beckley the ball back with just under two minutes to play.

With the Red Devils out of timeouts, the Flying Eagles could have run out the first-half clock for a seven-point lead.

Head coach Street Sarrett elected to keep his foot on the gas pedal.

Aided by two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties from Oak Hill, one resulting in an ejection, Beckley moved deep into Red Devils territory.

Price then inserted the first-half dagger with a 27-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Thomas with four seconds left on the clock.

Oak Hill refused to go away and struck quickly on the first drive of the second half.

Owen Grose scored on a 39-yard pass from Antione Hicks to trim the deficit to 21-13.

It was all Beckley the remainder of the game.

After a 41-yard run from Burdette, Price scored on a two-yard dive for a 28-13 advantage which stood after three quarters.

The complete back-breaker for Oak Hill came with 9:28 to play when a strip sack from Burdette ended in a 23-yard Clary scoop and score for a 35-13 lead.

Clary talked about his two scores and beating Oak Hill on Senior Night.

Burdette's big night was far from over, however.

The sophomore standout added a score from 66-yards out and another from 14-yards for the final margin.

Burdette ended the night with 24 carries for 219 yards and three scores.

Burdette discussed his night and the big plays that pushed the Flying Eagles over the top.