Prince Edward responded to the Fluco score with short drive that was stalled by another bad snap. The Flucos took over on their own two after an excellent punt. The Fluco offense then ground out a long and very time consuming drive. The highlights of the drive were two good runs by Tibbs, and a pass from Tibbs to Franco. The work horse of the drive was running back Jovan Burton, who posted a number of five and six yard runs on the drive. Fittingly, it was Burton who burst over from the four, for the Flucos second touchdown. The score came with 9:19 left in the second quarter.
Prince Edward fumbled again on their next possession, and the Flucos took over at their own 43. After a first down, the Flucos were faced with a fourth and nine. They were too close to the goal line to punt and not close enough to try a field goal. So, the Flucos went with a pass play, and Tibbs hit junior wide receiver Taquan Lewis on the right sideline for a first and goal at the five. After an incomplete pass, Burton again burst into the end zone. Franco converted again and the Flucos led 21-0.
Prince Edward, went three and out, with junior linebacker Jesse VanDyke contributing a quarterback sack. One of the Flucos rushing the punter got a hand on the ball and it traveled only a short distance past the line of scrimmage. The Flucos started on the Prince Edward 48, with 2:30 left in the half. Senior fullback Devon Goode ran for eight, and a screen pass to Burton took the ball to the thirty. Tibbs then hit Harrison again to take the ball to the eight. After an incomplete pass, Burton burst up the middle for his third touchdown of the second quarter. The touchdown came with 49 seconds left in the half. The extra point try was wide, and the score was 27-0.
Prince Edward fumbled again on its second play from scrimmage and the Flucos took over with thirty five seconds on the clock. After three passing tries at the end zone, Franco came in to try a 29 yard field goal. The kick was good and the Flucos went to the locker room with a very comfortable 30-0 lead.
The Flucos took the opening kick off of the second half and marched down the field for another score. The big play was a pass from Tibbs to junior wide receiver/quarterback Austin Foster. After catching a short pas on an in route, Foster made a clever spin to the outside for a good run after catch and a 25 yard gain. A pass to Harrison and two runs by Goode gave the Flucos a first and goal at the two. Sophomore running back RyQuane Washington took the ball in for the Flucos’ fifth touchdown on a sweep to the right. Prince Edward started at the thirty and on their second play, Fluco junior linebacker Jesse Lokits stepped in front of an Eagle receiver for an interception that he then returned for another Fluco TD. The score after three quarter of play was 43-.
Prince Edward staged a mini-rally in the fourth quarter, posting two touchdowns to make the final score 43-14.
Before the game, the new stadium was officially named Phil Browning Field and the Browning family and a host of former players and fellow teachers of Phil Browning were invited onto the field for the naming ceremony. Before the game at a hospitality tent Lewis Loving recalled playing with Browning in both high school and in college at Georgetown College in Kentucky. Browning’s daughter, Sally recalled her father as “an old school coach” who really demanded the best from his players. She noted that many of those players have fond memories of Browning demanding their best efforts.
The Flucos next game is away at Goochland High School on Friday (Aug. 31). They return home on Sept.7 to host Spotsylvania High School.
Photo: The Browning family and friends celebrated the naming of Phil Browning Field during the Aug. 24 game. Photo by David Stemple.
