By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
It was senior night on Nov. 8 and the last regular season football game as the Flucos hosted the Monticello High Mustangs. The first quarter was scoreless and it looked like a low scoring game was in the offing. The Flucos scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and went to the half leading 14-0. Unfortunately, the second half was a different story. The Flucos committed several turnovers and the Mustangs powered the ball on the ground, scoring five second half touchdowns for a 35-21 win.
The Flucos scored their first touchdown early in the second quarter. Junior running back Sam Loving powered the ball across the goal line from the three-yard line after only two minutes of second quarter play. The Flucos got the ball close to set up Loving on two impressive pass plays. Late in the first period, a long pass to senior receiver Benny Denby took the ball from the Fluco 18 to the Monticello 49 for a 33-yard gain. After a false start and two unsuccessful runs, it was third and 16. Junior quarterback Will Lambert fired over the middle and junior wide receiver Tramayne Minor made a great catch at the 25 for a first down. From there it was Loving on the ground for a touchdown. Junior Carson Raines kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Fluco lead.
Late in the second quarter, the Flucos recovered a Mustang fumble at their own 23 yard-line. Lambert passed three times and the third was a completion to Denby to the Fluco 42. Two 15 yard penalties on the Mustangs took the ball close to the goal line and with only 46 seconds left in the half Lambert found senior Mike Gaines in the back of the end zone for the Flucos’ second touchdown. Raines added the PAT and it was Flucos 14, Mustangs 0 at the half.
The Mustangs received the second half kick-off and returned it to mid-field. On their third play from scrimmage a rare long pass over the middle went for a touchdown. The PAT kick was good and the Mustangs trailed 14-7 with 8:45 left in the third quarter. The Flucos went three and out and punted. The Mustangs started at their own 45 and in seven running plays they scored their second touchdown. The PAT kick was good and the score was tied.
The Flucos bounced back. Lambert passed to Minor for a first down, but two penalties set the Flucos back. On third down and 15 to go, the Flucos executed a surprise play as junior halfback Kyle Harris looked like he was running a sweep, but he stopped and launched a long pass to Denby who was behind the Mustangs’ defensive backs. Denby was dragged down inside the ten for first and goal. This time it was Lambert throwing to Denby and the result was a touchdown. Raines kicked the PAT and the Flucos led 21-14 late in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, a 49 yard run by the Mustang quarterback and a successful PAT tied the score again. The Fluco ran three plays and the snap on their punt attempt was low and the punter could not handle it. The Mustangs had the ball first down and goal to go. They promptly ran it in for a seven-point lead. The Flucos went three and out and had to punt. They got the ball back when senior defensive back DeAndre McCloud intercepted a rare Mustang pass. But, as the Flucos moved down the field, Lambert was intercepted when he threw under heavy pressure. A long touchdown run by the Mustangs, with only 2:16 left in the game, effectively ended the game and the season for the Flucos.
After the game, Fluco Coach Mitchell Pace noted that even if it sounds like a cliché, he is extremely proud of this years’ team. He noted accurately that although his squad finished with a 4-6 record, a different result on only a few plays could have resulted in a 6-4 or better record and a spot in the play-offs. While a few key seniors will be lost to graduation and possibly play at the college level (Denby has committed to William and Mary) Pace has a solid core returning. Additionally, the Fluco JV football team has just concluded an undefeated season.
