LANDRUM – Labeling Landrum’s 17-14 football game victory over Blacksburg at Cardinal Stadium on Friday night an upset would be easy. The truth is, the Cardinals, going into the contest at 3-5 (now 4-5 overall, and 2-2 in the region), and the now 8-2 Wildcats, are simply two of the best defensive squads in the region.

Maybe the Cardinal players simply hadn’t realized how good they are. Maybe they’ve come to understand what Spartanburg District One School District officials knew over two years ago—that when they hired Jason Farmer as head coach, they recognized a winner, who needed only a bit of time to turn his players into winners.

Blacksburg dropped to 3-1 in the region.

If the word “upset” is justified, it might be that Blacksburg players and coaches were not happy with the results. Such was not the case for Farmer, who beamed a big smile after 48 minutes of play elapsed.

Both teams exhibited the kind of defense that kept each quarterback focused on his team’s running game. Landrum’s freshman QB, Turner Ussery, let go maybe two or three passes, but ran the ball brilliantly, many times.

The night’s differences included Landrum executing a perfect onsides kick, and recovering the ball, while Blacksburg tried the same tactic, but came up empty. They included Landrum coughing up the ball early in the game, but staying focused, and recovering a Blacksburg fumble shortly after.

The Cardinals also recovered another Wildcat miscue later in the contest. Play after play, Landrum defenders read the Wildcat offense well and swarmed around the ball. To their credit, the Wildcats did much the same, except they couldn’t contain Ussery. They also included Landrum, well into Wildcat territory, turning a fourth-down situation into a booming 42-yard field goal from Jesus Alviar, putting the Birds ahead 17-7.

Landrum won the opening toss, and elected to receive. For most of the first quarter, the two teams each exhibited tack-sharp defense, exchanging punts, until with 3:34 remaining, the Wildcats’ Alonso Davis burst into the end zone. The PAT attempt was good, and Blacksburg led, 7-0.

With about six minutes to go in the half, and Landrum just 12 yards away from the Wildcats’ end zone, Ussery made his bid for a score, being stopped maybe a yard short. However, teammate Dalton Kuykendall, who has filled out his running back shoes well this season, broke through, with Alviar’s kick tying the game at seven.

Alviar’s kickoff went to a Wildcat player who signaled a fair catch, then bobbled the ball, with Blacksburg recovering—temporarily. Then, Landrum’s Stanley Belue-Taylor grabbed a Wildcat fumble at the Wildcat 21. Ussery, on a keeper, pounded to the 14. However, a long penalty was assessed against the Cardinals, who had to punt.

Score after one half was 7-7. On their first drive of the second half, the Cardinals got rushing yards from Rashaun Brown and Ussery, before Kuykendall broke through for his second touchdown of the night, from inches out. That score and the good PAT attempt, put the Cardinals ahead, 14-7.

Landrum’s onsides kick squirted away from a Blacksburg player, with the Cardinals recovering the ball. Landrum was forced to punt, and the third quarter ended with Landrum up by 14-7.

Late in the game, the Cardinals faced a fourth and too many, well into Wildcat territory. Would they try for a first down? Not with Jesus Alviar on the field. Attempting the 42-yard field goal, Alviar put the ball through the uprights with power to spare, and Landrum led, 17-7 — that ten-point lead a relief in the blood-pressure department.

Though Blacksburg scored another touchdown, Landrum was able to hold the kickoff, and the ball, as the closing seconds ticked off the clock.

“Nobody did it but us,” Farmer emphasized after the game. “We did it. Landrum did it. Our defense is one of the tops in the region,” Farmer continued. “Our defense continues to get better each week . . . I hope the kids believe we have a championship football team, because they are.”

The Cardinals finish the regular season this Thursday, Nov. 3, when they host Pendleton, in a game originally set for Oct. 31.