By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
After two road losses, the Fluco football team needed a win, and they got it. The Knights from neighboring Buckingham County came to Browning Field on Friday Sept. 10 for the Flucos’ home opener. The Flucos sent them home on the losing side of a 24-18 score.
Relying almost entirely on their running game, the Flucos scored 17 in the first half and never trailed. Speedy senior quarterback Kobe Edmonds scored two of the Flucos’ touchdowns and powerful sophomore running back Eisryell Johnson scored the other touchdown. The Flucos kicking game was also important. Junior wide receiver and free safety Addison Patchett kicked three extra points and a field goal for six points, the winning margin. The Knights also scored three touchdowns, but all three of their attempts at two-point conversions were thwarted by the Fluco defense.
The Flucos took the game’s opening kick-off, and the game began with a flurry of flags. Four penalties were called on the first five plays. The Flucos first possession ended when the Knights intercepted a long pass at their own five yard-line. A fumble put the Knights back on their own one. They were forced to punt and the Flucos took over at the Buckingham 40. Edmonds faked a pass and took off to his left for a 37-yard gain. On the next play, Edmonds took the ball into the end zone for the first score of the game, and the Flucos led the rest of the way. Patchett kicked the extra point and the Flucos led 7-0 with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Flucos stopped the Knights on a fourth down, and the Flucos took over at their own 37. Edmonds again ran to the outside for big yardage, gaining 42 yards to the Buckingham 25. Senior fullback Chase Paschall ran for 12 and a first down. The drive stalled and Patchett came in to try for a field goal. His kick was good and the Flucos led 10-0 with 7:13 left in the half. The Knights immediately responded. A strong kick return gave them the ball at mid-field. In four plays they were in the end zone. A run for two points failed and the score was 10-6 with 5:50 left in the half.
With Johnson doing most of the running, the Flucos marched steadily down the field, burning up clock as they did so. With 53 seconds remaining, Johnson powered his way into the end zone from the five for the Flucos’ second touchdown. Patchett’s kick was good and the Flucos led 17-6 at the half.
The second half began with the Knights driving for their second score. Helped again by a strong kick-off return. Starting at the Fluco 43, Buckingham needed only five runs to put the ball in the end zone. Their two point extra point try failed. And the score was 17-12 with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter. The rest of the third quarter was scoreless.
A crucial play came early in the fourth quarter. Buckingham was on the march, but Edmonds knocked down the only pass the Knights tried all game and a delay of game penalty hurt the Knights. They faced a fourth down and seven at the Fluco 31. A running play came up short as the Fluco defense did its job, holding the Knights to a four yard gain, and giving the ball back to Edmonds and the offense with 10:33 remaining.
With Edmonds and Johnson doing most of the work, the Flucos again marched down field on the ground, grinding up the clock as they did so. With third down at the one-yard line Edmonds tried a quarterback sneak. It looked like he was stopped for no gain but he backed up a step and slid to his left and into the end zone. The Knights got a hand on the extra point attempt, but it still had enough velocity to get through the uprights. The Flucos led by twelve, 24-12 with only 2:52 left in the game.
The Flucos went with a squib kick-off and the Knights started at their own 43. They went 57 yards in three running plays and their extra point try failed, making the score 24-18 with 1:32 left in the game. The Knights’ on-side kick was recovered by Fluco senior offensive lineman Grant Brown, and the Flucos were able to run out the clock for the win.
After the game, Fluco Head Coach Michael Morris praised the blocking of senior tight end Austin Moore and senior offensive tackle Matthew Panas.
The Flucos have their bye week on Sept. 17. They travel to Louisa on Sept. 24. On Oct. 1 and 8, they will be at home against Goochland County and Monticello High.
