By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluco football regular season begins on Aug. 29, when the team travels to Spotsylvania. The following week on Sept. 5 the regular season home opener will start at 7 p.m. against Buckingham County. Head-Coach Mitchell Pace expects Buckingham to be an early test as their program has consistently produced tough teams. On Sept. 12, the Flucos will play their third non-Jefferson District opponent traveling to Chancellor High. After a bye week, they then begin their tough Jefferson District schedule hosting traditionally strong Louisa County on Sept. 26.
Pace likes the look of this year’s team. He has a roster of around 40 players, including a number of strong seniors with important varsity experience and an outstanding junior class of players who went undefeated on the Fluco JV team last season.
Returning at quarterback is senior Will Lambert who turned in a strong season in 2024 in the starting role. Running backs who are returning include senior Co-Captain Matt Rea who came into his own in the second half of the season last year, and senior Sam Loving an outstanding athlete who has starred on the baseball field for the Flucos. Garrett Jordan who is a junior, and a track star, is also expected to contribute. If he breaks free, it is unlikely that anyone will catch him. The Fluco offensive line will consist mainly of juniors, who Pace reports are working hard in the weight room to prepare for varsity level competition.
The defensive line will be anchored by senior co-captain CJ Johnson. Two other lineman who have been named co-captains are juniors Jake Heatwole and Braddock Morris. Senior defensive back Kyle Harris is expected to be a standout performer. Pace expects his line backing crew to be very solid The defense will be under new Defensive Coordinator Brandon Towns. The punter this year will Pace’s son, Jack Pace, who is a junior and will also be the back-up quarterback. Extra points and field goals will be handled by junior Dawson Raines, who Pace reports has been working hard to perfect his kicking skills.
Friday night football has always been the biggest high school sports attraction in middle America and crowds usually grow larger and larger if a high school team starts to have success on the field. That is a possibility this season with the Flucos.
