Arbutus Big Red owner George Kendrick and his team had a bitter ending to its season on a cold, windy night in Virginia as they lost the Mason Dixon League championship game, 21-16, to the Northern Neck Rivermen on a Hail Mary pass with 1:02 left.
Kendrick missed most of the game because he got knocked over on the sidelines.
"I got blindsided and spent the rest of the second and third quarters on the bus," he said.
Tim Fobbs intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown and Raymond Gambril rushed for a touchdown.
Ryan McGowan kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Big Red (11-4).
The defense was led by linebacker and former Mount St. Joseph standout Brendon Twilley.
"He always plays a good game," Kendrick said.
The Rivermen scored the game-winning touchdown on a 45-yard pass.
"Sometimes the prevent defense prevents you from winning," Kendrick said.
Kendrick, whose squad knocked off top-seeded and previously undefeated Virginia Crusaders a week earlier, praised the Big Red fans who supported the squad all season.
"Fans were with us all the way," said Kendrick, who noted over 30 fans made the trek to Colonial Beach for the game.
He also praised his own club.
"Only two teams got there and we were one of them," Kendrick said.
Arbutus coaches Ulander Giles and Jimmy Lewis and former Big Red standout linebacker Kevin Moore were inducted into the Mason Dixon Football League Hall of Fame.