It seems like anytime there’s a big play at Independence the name Goodson is attached to it, and it’s not always Atticus.
While Cyrus, the younger of the two Goodson brothers, isn’t as heralded, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s saved his teams numerous times throughout his career.
In the baseball sectional championship in June it was he who smacked the go-ahead home run that lifted the Patriots to a win.
Friday, with the season on the line in a different sport, he delivered again.
Trailing 20-7 and facing a fourth-and-9 at the Bluefield 31, Atticus lined up at quarterback and scrambled to his right in an attempt to avoid the pass rush. With defenders collapsing on him, Atticus chucked the ball up to his right into an empty space.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Cyrus came back to the ball, sliding to his knees to catch it at the Bluefield 10. On the next play Atticus capped the drive with a touchdown run that made it a 20-14 game.
But rewinding to the play before, if the younger Goodson doesn’t catch that pass the outcome of Friday’s 34-20 Class AA semifinal win is in question. Bluefield would’ve taken over on downs at its own 31, leading by two scores in the second half.
For Atticus there was never any doubt what the outcome of the play would be.
“I put trust in my brother,” Atticus said. “I knew he was going to get open. It was some luck and some awesomeness but Cyrus is a heckuva player and made a catch.”
“Jacorian (Green) was on me and he’s tough,” Goodson said. “He’s like 6-foot-4, real fast and he’s got good hands. Luckily he slipped. He broke back on the ball to get the interception and I did the same thing. I was just able to catch it.”
It was only one of two touches Cyrus had, though the other one completely swung the contest.
With the game tied 20-20 and Bluefield facing third-and-4 from its own 44, Beavers QB Ryker Brown threw a pass out to his left, the field side. Goodson read it, broke on it and 48 yards later reached the end zone to put Indy up for good.
“I was just trying to make sure he didn’t get vertical,” Goodson said of Green, the target on the play. “When he gets vertical he’s probably the best receiver in the state so I was just trying to cut that off all day and he ran the short route so I broke on it. (Brown) threw the ball and I got the interception.”
It was the second interception return for a touchdown of the season for Goodson, who did the same to Shady Spring in the regular season. Each pick seems to come at a turning point.
Earlier in the year the talented junior intercepted a pass against Nicholas County that helped the Patriots establish a three-score lead heading into the half.
It’s not lost on him, but he thrives in accepting that challenge.
“No, I mean pressure just means you’re nervous,” Goodson said earlier this year of his lack of nerves. “The only reason you’re nervous is because you don’t think you’re good enough for the spotlight. But this is what I wanted my whole life so I ain’t gonna shy away from it when it gets here, so I’m not nervous at all. I’m just going to play the game like I’ve always played it, so no nerves really.”
Goodson’s continuously backed up that claim with his play.
Coming into Friday it’s hard to argue he didn’t have the toughest job. As a receiver he had to contend with Green, the reigning 200-meter champion. The job was even more difficult on defense as he was largely tasked with guarding the dangerous wideout. He held his own on that side of the ball as well, limiting Green to 42 yards on four catches to go along with his interception.
Only once did Green get behind the Indy defense and even then the pass fell incomplete.
He accepted the challenge of guarding Green and now his team reaps the rewards.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Goodson said. “I’m glad we were just able to get it done for our seniors. It feels amazing not letting those guys down. We wanted them to have this moment so I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
