By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
Senior Day is always a happy occurrence as all the seniors on the football team and on the other fall sports teams are announced and they and their escorts (usually a parent or parents) march across the field from the visitor’s side to the home side. For those who have already made a college choice that fact is announced. Such as, “and will be attending JMU in the fall, or ”will be starting out at PVCC in the fall.” Football Coach Michael Morris noted that his squad only had nine seniors this year, so it was a fairly young team.
Unfortunately, the good feelings of senior day did not carry over to the Flucos match-up with the Black Knights of Charlottesville High. The first quarter of the game went quickly as both teams stuck almost exclusively to the ground, and the clock did not stop for many incomplete passes. The quarter ended 0-0.
Early in the second quarter, the Black Knights faced a third down and 17, their quarterback hit a wide receiver for what looked like it might be a ten-yard gain, but the wide receiver broke at tackle, cut back and took the ball all the way in for a touchdown. The extra point snap was fumbled but the holder managed to scoop the ball up and found a receiver in the end zone for an improvised two-point conversion.
Fluco kick returner Isaac Lewis had a good kick return to bring the ball out to the 45. However, after a nice quarterback keeper run by sophomore Camdyn Via, the Flucos stalled and turned the ball over on downs. The Flucos then were hurt by physics. From the Fluco 28, the Black Knights’ quarterback threw a short pass to the outside. The Fluco defenders were on top of it, but (and you see this occasionally at all levels of football) two Fluco defenders hit the receiver hard from opposite sides. The defenders fell away and the receiver was left standing. For an instant, he looked puzzled, but he was not stupid. He took off for the end zone and scored on a 72 yard pass play that included 68 yards of run-after-catch. The PAT was good.
Lewis had another good kick return. This time to the 42. However, an interception turned the ball back to the Black Knights and they took the ball down to the four-yard line threatening a three touchdown lead at half time, But, the Black Knights turned it over on a fumble so they led 15-0 at the intermission.
The Flucos got the ball to start the second half and senior running back Clayton Cannady had two first-down runs, one for ten yards and one for twelve. Unfortunately, a mishandled snap and a long incompletion forced the Flucos into a punting situation. Via’s punt was blocked and the Black Knights quickly took the ball in for their third touchdown. The PAT was good again and the Flucos were down 22-0. The fourth quarter was scoreless, as neither team could generate much offense. The Flucos are now 0-9 on the season and their final game is at a strong Albemarle High team on Nov. 4.
