By Duncan Nixon
“We are proud of last season,” says Fluco head football Coach Mitchell Pace. “Fluvanna football had a successful year, but we are not content.”
This season the varsity is senior-laden and therefore highly experienced.
Running back Garrett Jordan returns after an outstanding junior season. He is a track star and a strong, shifty runner. Defenses will focus on stopping him; they may not have much success.
Taking over at quarterback is senior Jack Pace, the coach’s son. While Pace did not play many minutes as a junior, the team has confidence in him. He is the only QB listed on the coach’s list of expected key contributors.
Carrying the ball in addition to Jordan will be junior running back Eli Harris and sophomore
fullback Dhani Cooke. In the receiver department, quarterback Pace will have experienced targets.
Senior wide-outs Brody Shields and Dedric Cook and junior wide-out Jacob (Crumbs) Loving will be on the receiving end of Pace’s throws. Tight ends Kenny Klein and Jake McCall will also be in the mix. Coach Pace has traditionally run an offense that moves primarily on the ground, and with Jordan in the backfield there is no reason to expect that to change.
The Flucos’ offensive line will have good size and experienced talent. At the important
offensive tackle spots, Pace will probably be starting senior captains Braddock Morris and Jake Healwole.
Two other senior offensive linemen who will play major minutes are Tyler Goode and Conner Peterson.
Underclassmen who Coach Pace will look to are junior Asher Barnett and sophomore Eli Stribling.
Stribling is one of the few players who will be called upon to play both offense and defense.
On defense, linebackers are often key to stopping the opposing offense. Coach Pace cites five
players who will be called upon to put in major minutes at linebacker. They are Klein, seniors Dakota Drumheller, Keen Dickerson, and Semaj Evans, plus junior Robbie Richardson.
In high school football, defensive backs naturally have the responsibility of guarding receivers.
They also must be good tacklers, as many teams are heavily run-oriented. Not to be ignored, of course, are defensive linemen who battle it out in the trenches with little recognition. Coach Pace will rely on Stribling and Morris, and on juniors Kainan Grooms and Chris Moore to handle the defensive line assignments.
A major asset for the Flucos last season was the contribution of placekicker Dawson Raines. He
returns and is expected to be a serious contributor.
Coach Pace says, “We are working hard to continue to raise and maintain a high standard each
and every season.”
After scrimmages on Aug. 13 and 21, the regular season opens on Aug.28 when the Flucos host Spotsylvania. On Sept. 4, the Flucos travel south to play at Buckingham County. They return home on Sept. 10 to host Chancellor High. After a bye week, they start their tough Jefferson District schedule hosting the traditionally strong Louisa Lions. They are scheduled to play five times in October and finish up at Albemarle on Oct. 6.
