BY DUNCAN NIXON
CORRESPONDENT
The Fluvanna County High football team did not have a lot of success in 2021. Coach Michael Morris believes that this year’s squad will be different because of increased depth on both sides of the line. At all levels of football, games are often decided “in the trenches.” Morris said he thinks that this year scores will be lower, as he emphasizes running the ball most of the time on offence and defending vigorously. Running successfully uses up clock time and limits the number of possessions for both teams.
As of this writing, the Flucos have not taken the field for even a scrimmage. Accordingly, quite a few starting positions are still undecided. Morris has 35 athletes to choose from. At the important quarterback position, Morris is looking at sophomore Cam Via and Avery Pleasants. At running back, he has some speed and size. He will be using a number of players including Richard Price, Clayton Cannady, Marcus Dickerson and Isaac Lewis. Morris said that his running backs may also take some direct snaps as well.
The Flucos won’t be doing a lot of passing, but they have some tall targets on the outside. Izzy Johnson and Andrew Sheridan were both listed at 6-2 or 6-3 last year. Jalen Johnson will also be in the mix. Senior Jacob Morris will be at tight end and will also be at fullback for some plays.
Morris’ offensive line depth includes, junior Linwood Perkins, junior Christian Lambert, senior Jared Morris, senior Matt Benton, junior transfer Kyeron King, sopho- more Zeke Johnson and junior Cullen Long. Several of these linemen are in the 250 pound range. A number of these linemen will also go two ways and will join Hayden Campbell on the defensive line. Linebackers will include, Braeden Haney, Aiden Valentine and some of the running backs. Defensive backs will include Jon Jones, a senior, Kenneth Cuellar and a few of the running backs.
The kicking game has not been finalized, but Morris said that Via will probably be the punter, and that Cullen Long is likely to handle kick-offs and PATs. Having a quarterback as your punter makes it possible to try a fake or two over the course of the season. Return specialists will probably be Lewis, Jones and Price.
The Flucos played a three-team scrimmage at William Monroe on Aug.12. On Aug.
19, they will host a three-team scrimmage with Prince Edward County and Wilson Me- morial visiting. In these scrimmages, they rotate so each team plays the equivalent of a half against each of the other squads. On Aug. 26, the Fluco’s regular season begins with a home game against Broadway High. After Broadway, the Flucos host Spotsylvania on Sept. 2. They then travel to Brookville on Sept. 9 and host Louisa County on Sept. 16. Sept. 23 is a bye week. After that, they play the usual suspects including Goochland, Monticello, Orange, Western Albemarle, Charlottesville and Albemarle.
