By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluvanna County football team hosted the Orange County Hornets on Oct. 18. It was the Flucos Homecoming contest, and they were up against a team with a 5-2 record including several one-sided wins.
The Flucos took the opening kick-off and marched down the field, converting on several crucial third downs. Junior quarterback Will Lambert led the way with third down completions and scrambles. With the ball at the Orange 17-yard line, Lambert dropped back and threw over the middle, while under pressure. The throw was on target to sophomore Jack Pace at the goal line for a touchdown. The Flucos used over five minutes on the drive. The extra point kick was good and the Flucos led 7-0.
The Hornets moved the ball into Fluvanna territory but turned it over at the Fluvanna 22 on a fumble. Once again, the Flucos moved the ball, relying mainly on scrambles by Lambert. He took the ball almost to the end zone for what could have led to a second score, but the scramble was nullified by a holding penalty. The Flucos then turned the ball over on downs on the final play of the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, the Hornets’ speedy running back broke through the middle and dashed 84 yards for a touchdown. The following two-point extra point running attempt was stuffed by the Flucos and the score was Fluvanna 7 and Orange 6. The Flucos went three and out and had to punt. Orange started on the Fluvanna 44. Taking advantage of the short field, the Hornets marched down the field entirely on the ground and punched in their second touchdown with 6:39 remaining in the half. Their two point conversion attempt was good and Orange led 14-7.
The Flucos then started on their own 32-yard line. On their first play, what looked like and end-around running play by junior Tremayne Minor was instead an end around pass play. Minor launched a long throw down the middle of the field and Fluco senior wide receiver Benny Denby wrestled the ball away from shorter Hornet defenders for a 43 yard gain to the Orange 25. A completion and an illegal collar tackle by Orange took the ball to the eight-yard line. A Lambert pass to the back of the end zone was hauled in by Minor who managed to get his feet down in bounds. The extra point kick was good, and the score was tied 14-14, with 2:57 left in the half.
Orange gained one first down, but then turned it over as Fluco senior defensive back DeAndre McCloud intercepted an overthrown pass. Unfortunately, the Flucos went three and out. The Hornets kept the ball on the ground and ran in for their third touchdown as the time in the half expired. A 15-yard post touchdown penalty was assessed on the extra point. The Flucos blocked the Hornets kick so the half time score was Orange 20, Fluvanna 14.
Orange received the second half kick-off and had enormous penalty problems, suffering three false start penalties and a holding penalty. They naturally went to the pass on third and very long. Fluco junior defensive back Riley Diaz intercepted and the Flucos started on the Orange 32. Lambert hit Denby to put the ball on the 5-yard line. An incomplete pass, a Lambert run of four, and a no gain made it fourth and goal from the one. Junior running back Matt Rea found a small gap and took the ball in for the Flucos’ third touchdown. A successful kick on the point after gave the Flucos a 21-20 lead, with 4:30 left in the third quarter. Orange was still having problems. After the Fluco kick-off, they fumbled on their third play and Fluco junior CJ Johnson recovered.
The Fluco managed one first down on a pass to Denby. And, another on a fourth down run by Rea, taking the game into the fourth quarter. After another first down, they turned it over on downs at the Orange 17. The Flucos never got the ball back. Three running plays for a first down for the Hornets and there was only 5:11 left. Orange simply ran the ball down the field eating up clock. With 16 seconds left Orange pushed the ball across the goal line. They convert an unneeded two point extra point., and the final score was 28-21.
The Flucos are now 3-4 with three regular season games remaining. They travel to Louisa on Oct 25 and to Goochland on Nov. 1. They are home for a senior night game on Nov. 8 against Monticello High.
