By Duncan Nixon, correspondent
In a back and forth battle at Fluvanna High on Friday (Sept. 21), the Flying Flucos scored 14 in the final quarter to secure their third win of the season.
Last week against Madison High the Flucos unleashed an overwhelming running game to win 57-35. The Flucos ran for seven touchdowns and had an eighth on a return. This week, it was the passing of freshman quarterback Kobe Edmonds that put the Flucos in the end zone twice. The third and game-winning touchdown came on an interception return by senior defensive back Prophett Harris.
After a scoreless first period, the Mustangs were first to score, converting a field goal with 2:23 left in the half. The Flucos covered a squib punt after the Monticello field goal, at the Fluvanna 46. The Flucos went three and out and punted. Monticello fumbled on its second play from scrimmage with the Flucos recovering at the Monticello 22 with 0:38 left in the half. On the Flucos’ third snap, which was the final play of the half, Edmonds threw to running back Dametrez Christmas in the end zone. Christmas outfought two defenders to make the catch. Elijah Bullock added the extra point and the Flucos went to the locker room with a 7-3 halftime lead.
The Mustangs were not demoralized by the Fluco touchdown to end the first half. They came out strong, returning the second half kick-off all the way to the Fluco 14-yard line, and scoring three plays later. The extra point was good and the Mustangs were on top 10-7.
The rest of the third quarter was a story of turnovers. First the Flucos turned the ball over on an intercepted halfback pass. Monticello gave the ball back on a fumble and the Flucos returned the compliment with a fumble of their own.
Early in the fourth quarter senior Fluco running back Nathan Smith had a nice run up the middle and the Mustangs were assessed a face mask penalty. As a result, the Flucos had the ball at the Monticello 13-yard line. Edmonds rolled right and found Smith open in the end zone for the Flucos’ second touchdown. Bullock again converted on the PAT and the Flucos were back in the lead at 14-10.
The Flucos kicked away from Monticello’s dangerous kick returner, and Monticello started at its own 37. The Monticello quarterback dropped back and threw to the right sideline. Harris read the play perfectly and intercepted at full speed. With his speed, there was no chance that any of the Mustangs would stop him before he reached the end zone. The Flucos added a two point conversion and led 22-10, with 11:15 left in the game.
Monticello and Fluvanna traded turnovers on fumbles. Monticello then put together a sustained 75-yard drive for a touchdown. However, the drive ate up a lot of clock time and there was only 3:57 left in the game.
Naturally Monticello tried an onside kick, but it failed as three Flucos covered the ball. The Flucos only need a couple of first downs to run out the clock. But first downs are often hard to come by in these circumstances.
Two off-tackle power runs by Christmas gained 12 and a first down. Unfortunately, the next series did not start well. A one-yard loss, a five-yard penalty and a loss on a fumble that was recovered by Fluco center William Custer left the Flucos with 20 yards to go. The Fluco brain trust then made a brilliant call: a counter play to Harris. The play looks like the power off-tackle run that Christmas had been running successfully. Naturally the Monticello defense, which was determined to get the ball back, flowed toward Christmas. At the last second, Edmonds handed off to Harris going in the opposite direction. The result was a 30-yard gain, and a game-ending first down.
After the game, Coach Mike Morris noted that the counter play was not one that the team had practiced very much, making it an even more daring call.
Morris noted after the game that success breeds confidence and that he is pleased to see his players becoming more and more confident in what the team is doing.
The Flucos play next at Orange County on Sept. 28. On Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 they will host Charlottesville and Powhatan respectively. On Oct.17 they will be at Albemarle High.
