Offenses exploded in the showdown between Buckingham County High School’s and William Campbell High School’s varsity football teams  Friday. Ultimately, the Knights came up on the short end of a score that would make most think basketball season had come early — 56-52.

“We played hard but just gave up way too many big plays,” Buckingham Head Coach Joshua Wallace said.

The most the Knights had scored in a game this season prior to Friday was 24 points, but they were executing a new offense against the host Generals.

“We turned to some power football,” Wallace said.

Buckingham trailed 16-8 after the first quarter, but both teams piled on points in the second quarter, with William Campbell holding a 38-22 lead at halftime.

The Knights got their touchdowns via a 1-yard run by senior fullback Sean Ayers, a 15-yard reception by senior running back Rajheem Holman from sophomore Tyrese Ayers and a 20-yard reception by senior wide receiver Juwan Dibble from Ayers.

In the second half, Buckingham rattled off four straight touchdowns to take a 46-38 lead. Three of the scores came from Holman, who finished the game with four touchdowns. He made the score 38-28 with a 32-yard run and made it 38-34 with a 23-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Junior quarterback Daniel Brickhill scored on a 5-yard run to give his team a 40-38 lead, which was extended by Holman’s 58-yard punt return for a touchdown.

William Campbell drew within two on a 53-yard scoring run. The Knights fumbled a punt on the 5-yard line, setting up the Generals for an easy score and a 50-46 lead.

A Buckingham fumble on the kickoff return preceded a Generals 35-yard run that gave them a 10-point lead with 5:31 to go.

Brickhill helped give the Knights new life with a 50-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Walter Edwards, making the score 56-52 with 4:57 left.

“We had one last drive to get up in there and get it done, but we threw a pick,” Wallace said.

The Knights (0-3) are now preparing to host Nottoway High School (1-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. with at least one key priority.

“We’ve just got to do a better job on defense,” Wallace said.