By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
It was run the ball, run the ball, and run some more on Nov. 8 as the Flying Fluco stuck to the ground to top the Monticello Mustangs. All four Fluco touchdowns in a 28-0 win came on runs. At the beginning of the season, Fluco second year Coach Mike Morris advised that his team would probably feature “running back by committee.” Usually you might expect that one running back would eventually take over the bulk of the offense as the season progresses. However, in the final regular season game, running back by committee is exactly what the Flucos featured.
After the game, Morris noted that his offensive run game was “very balanced.” Running behind a powerful offensive line, sophomore quarterback Kobe Edmonds, senior running backs Gabe Stoy, Justin Sulllivan and Malachi Hill and junior running back Keontae Hearns, blasted through and ran around the Mustangs defense. Morris noted that he felt this was his team’s “best game overall.” Obviously, the defense was also strong as it shutout a Mustang offense that was led by a highly talented and dangerous quarterback. The Fluco defense gave up yardage as it bent but did not break. Two turnovers by the Mustangs helped to ensure a shutout.
On the opening possession of the game, the Flucos drove 80 yards on the ground for a touchdown. Hill did most of the damage with two runs of over ten yards. The coup de grace was delivered by Stoy on an eight-yard blast up the middle. The extra point was good and the Flucos had a 7-0 lead with 7:43 left in the first quarter. After a couple of good gains, the Mustangs flubbed a pitch-out and Fluco senior defensive tackle Aden Custer recovered the fumble for a first and ten at the Fluco 42.
In three runs by Edmonds, Hearns and Hill the Flucos were at the Mustang 15, but a Fluco fumble turned the ball back to Monticello. The Mustangs managed a couple of first downs, but the Fluco defense stiffened and fourth down try by the Mustangs failed giving the ball back to Fluvanna as the first quarter ended. Sullivan ripped off a powerful 28-yard run to the Monticello 15. Hill Stoy and Edmonds combined to take the ball to the one and Edmonds scored on a quarterback sneak. Elijah Bullock slammed through the PAT and the Flucos were up 14-0 with 8:02 left in the half.
Monticello went three and out, with senior linebacker Tyler Stoy getting his first of two pass knockdowns at the line of scrimmage. On the Mustang punt, Bullock made an excellent return all the way to the Mustang 20-yard line. Coach Morris pointed to this run back as a turning point in the game. Runs by Hearns and Hill gained only four, but Edmonds took the ball to the 12-yard line for a first down. On a counter play, Hill nearly scored, but was stopped at the one. Edmonds scored again on a quarterback sneak. The PAT was good. The Mustangs managed one first down but an interception by Fluco junior Ryan Hicks on a desperation throw, due to pressure from senior Walt Stribbling gave the ball back to the Flucos with less than a minute left. The Flucos took a 21-0 lead to the locker room at the half.
The Mustangs moved the ball effectively on their first possession of the second half gaining a first and goal at the three. The Fluco defense held on three plays and the Mustangs fumbled on fourth and one. The Mustangs drive took up half of the third quarter, so that the Flucos took over with only 6:03 left. The Flucos made one first down and were halted on their second series and punted. The Mustangs made a couple of first downs but the Flucos forced two losses and an incompletion for a fourth and 16. A holding penalty on the Mustangs made it fourth and forever. Down by three touchdowns, the Mustangs had to go for it. An incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Flucos. Edmonds and Stoy made good gains and Stoy had another strong run up the middle all the way to the one. Hill scored easily on sweep and the PAT was good for a final score of 28-0.
The Fluco ended their regular season with a 5-5 record, with 4-1 at home and 1-4 on the road. Three of the Flucos five losses were on the road against teams from higher classes (i.e. larger enrollments) in the Virginia High School League classification system
