MIDDLEBURG – Two long reverse plays that landed touchdowns of 75 yards and eights yards spelled doom for the Middleburg High Broncos football team that fell 35-30 to Matanzas in a Thursday night game made up from Hurricane Dorian delays in week three.

Middleburg, winless still in three contests, got an outstanding first half of football; a 24-7 lead, behind hard running from Jay Lane, who punched in with 65 yards for the half with a score, Trevor Shearin with two scoring plunges from inside the five yard line, wideout Laron Bryant snagging seven passes for 77 yards with a spectacular diving catch for a 37 yard score in the third quarter and a relentless defense that got a Storm Newsome blocked punt for a safety and a kickoff fumble recovery from Joe Justino.

In the second half, though, Middleburg’s defense gave up the two scores on reverse plays and got a field goal blocked as Matanzas pushed to a 24-21 deficit as the fourth quarter started.

In the third quarter, Middleburg got three successful plays; a 19 yard run to Shearin, a 34 yard pass to Bryant and an 11 yard scoring run from Lane put the Broncos on the scoreboard, but penalty flags and a sack negated the efforts as Justino’s 46 yard field goal attempt was blocked.

In the fourth, the Pirates got a 50 yard go-ahead run, 28-24 on the first play of their second drive.

The Broncos stalled again on offense with four plays putting Justino in his own end zone to punt as Matanzas was again starting at the 50.

Another long run, this time 37 yards to paydirt, put Matanzas up 35-24 with the Broncos unable to generate any ball movement on offense with Justino getting intercepted on the next Bronco series.

A 40 yard touchdown toss to Todd ended the scoring for the night with Middleburg able to close the gap to 35-30. Middleburg will travel to Englewood (1-2) in a district game on Fri., Sept. 20.