By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
It was the Flying Flucos’ Homecoming game. The crowd was large and the play on the field was spirited. Despite the fact that neither team scored in 48 minutes of regulation play, the game was entertaining and interesting. There were a number of big plays but both sides had some of their biggest plays called back for offensive holding penalties. There were turnovers and there were fourth down stops resulting in changes of possession. The Warriors from Western Albemarle High School had a long field goal try, but it was no good.
In high school football, if the score is tied after regulation play, each team gets to try to score from the ten-yard line, and if one team outscores the other, the game is over. The visiting team goes first, and Western Albemarle ran for two and three yards on its first two downs. Their quarterback then ran a sweep to the left and just got in for the touchdown before being forced out of bounds. The Warriors lined up to kick the extra point, but a bad snap forced their holder to run to his right and at the last second he spotted a receiver in the end zone and hit him with a pass for the two-point conversion.
The Flucos now started at the ten-yard line, with a tall order. If they did not score a touchdown and a two-point extra point they would lose. It was not to be. On first down, junior quarterback Owen Leydig handed to Addison Patchett for a two-yard gain. On second down, Leydig threw for Patchett in the right corner of the end zone. Patchett made the catch, but the throw was just too far right and Patchett came down out of bounds. On third, a Leydig pass was knocked down. On fourth and eight Leydig was forced out of the pocket and had to throw a desperation toss. The Warriors intercepted and the game was over.
Coach Michael Morris’ squad played an outstanding game against an imposing opponent. The Warriors were decidedly taller and heavier than the Flucos, but the Fluco defenders worked hard all night and made a number of swarming team tackles. Frankly, the Flucos were not expected to be competitive. The Warriors came in with a 6-1 record, while the Flucos came in 2-5. The Warriors won, but they were in a real battle.
The Flucos started the game with a surprise passing attack. Leydig opened with a pass to junior Jacob Seymore for 19 yards. He then hit Patchett for nine yards and Seymore again for nine more. Unfortunately, a ten-yard penalty set the Flucos back and they gave up the ball on downs at the Western 31. The Warriors started to march down the field on the ground but their drive was stopped when they fumbled and the Flucos recovered. The teams then exchanged punts and the first quarter was scoreless.
On the Flucos’ first possession of the second quarter Leydig made an impressive run dodging a number of defenders, but as he went down at the Western Albemarle 20, he fumbled and the Warriors recovered. The first half ended with a long pass by the Warriors that Leydig intercepted at the Fluco nine. In the third quarter both teams ran the ball almost exclusively, so the quarter went quickly. Both teams had big plays called back due to penalties.
Early in the fourth quarter the Warriors were facing fourth and three at the Fluco 20. Rather than go for the first down, they choose to attempt a field goal. The kick was wide left and the Flucos took over. The Flucos ran off a lot of clock, moving the ball down field, but an interception turned the ball back to the Warriors late in the game. The Warriors could manage only one first down and the Flucos intercepted a long desperate pass. The game was scoreless after four quarters. Overtime followed.
After the game, Coach Morris noted that senior fullback/linebacker Chase Paschall was outstanding throughout the game on defense, and he is a grinding power runner. Morris described Paschall as “definitely our team leader.” The Flucos offense after the early passing spree was mostly on the ground. The burden was split between Leydig and Paschall , with senior Kobe Edmonds and Patchett contributing as well.
The Fluco season is winding down. On Oct. 29, the Flucos travel to Charlottesville to take on the Black Knights. Their regular season finale is on Nov. 5 when they host the Albemarle Patriots
