By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
After a slow start to the season, the Fluvanna County High football team has turned into a powerhouse. On Senior Night, Nov. 7, the Flucos hosted the Albemarle High Patriots in their last regular season game. The Flucos steadily destroyed their opponents. At the end of the first quarter the Flucos led 10-7. They upped it to 24-7 at halftime. A 17-7 third quarter lifted the lead to 41-14. The final score was 48-20. The Fluco offense looks overwhelming, with six wins in a row and 164 points in their past four games.
Albemarle took the opening kick-off in this game and marched down the field only to lose a scoring opportunity when the Flucos intercepted in the end zone. The Flucos started at the twenty and marched all the way down the field. Senior running back Garrett Jordan had several good runs to take the ball into Patriots’ territory. Senior quarterback Will Lambert passed to junior wide receiver Brody Shields to take it to the twenty-one. Jordan than ran it in, breaking two tackles along the way. Junior Dawson Raines nailed the PAT and the Flucos never looked back. On the next Albemarle possession Junior Mark Heatwole recorded an impressive sack setting the Patriots back six yards. On fourth down a Patriots’ hike sailed way too high and the Flucos started at the nine yard line. The Albemarle defense held and the Flucos were forced to settle for a Raines field goal. Albemarle bounced back scoring their first touchdown on the last play of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Flucos marched 80 yards again for their second touchdown. Lambert ran it in from the two. The big plays on the drive were Lambert passes to Junior Kenny Klein and to Jordan. Albemarle responded with a long pass play on a fourth down which took the ball deep into Fluco territory. However, on a fourth down run attempt the Flucos stopped the Patriots cold. The Flucos started at their own five-yard line with 3:48 left in the half. Several carries by Jordan took the ball into Patriot territory. On fourth and three from just outside field goal range, Lambert hit Klein and he broke a tackle on the way to a touchdown with only twenty-nine seconds on the clock.
The second half started with a good kick-off return by senior Sam Loving. Jordan then did most of the work as the Flucos rushed the ball down the field and Jordan scored on a short run. The PAT was good and the Flucos had a comfortable 31-7 lead. The Flucos added a second field goal by Raines and a short touchdown run by Lambert for a 41-7 lead late in the third quarter. The Patriots scored their second touchdown with 2:27 remaining in the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter Lambert threw to Shields on the outside, the Albemarle defender tried to jump the route but was too late. Shields was alone and he sprinted 58 yards for the Flucos’ final score. Albemarle scored a late touchdown and the final score was Fluvanna 48 Albemarle 20.
The Flucos kicking game continued to impress. Raines has been very impressive all year on field goals and extra points. In this game he was 6 for 6 on PATs and 2 for 2 on field goals, Shields has been the holder with junior Dakota Drumheller or senior Nathan MaGill doing the snapping. The Flucos game statistics were very impressive. The offense piled up 483 yards. Jordan rushed for 165 and two touchdowns. Lambert passed for 242 yards on 12-13, and threw for two touchdowns. Shields and Klein each caught four passes, Shields for 114 and Klein for 89. On defense, Lambert and Tre Key had interceptions, and Heatwole, Tristen Hodson and Eli Stribling had sacks.
The Flucos’ win qualifies them for post season Region play. They will play on Nov. 14 against an opponent not known at press time.
