Tops Madison 57-35
By Duncan Nixon, correspondent
The headline is not a joke. It really happened. The Fluvanna County High football team traveled to Madison County Wednesday (Sept. 12) and scored five touchdowns in the third quarter, two in the fourth, and added a couple of two-point extra points for a total of 50 points.
The Fluco offense moved the ball well in the first half, but the defense had trouble with the Mountaineers’ passing game. Madison took a 21-7 lead into the locker room at the half.
The second half was a completely different story.
Fluco senior running back Demetrious Christmas started the second half with a bang, returning the kick-off for a touchdown. Elijah Bullock kicked the extra point and the Flucos were only down by one touchdown. On its first possession of the second half, Madison made a couple first downs, but then turned it over on a fumble. Christmas ripped off a long run and on the Flucos’ third play from scrimmage, senior running back Daori Green took the ball into the end zone. Bullock converted the extra point and the score was tied at 21-21, with 6:21 left in the third quarter. The Madison crowd was suddenly silent.
On Madison’s next possession they went three and out, with Fluco linebacker Dahris Tinsley recording a sack of the Mountaineers’ quarterback on third down. The Flucos gained a first down on three running plays and Christmas broke loose again. He burst into the secondary and outran the Madison defenders for a 68-yard touchdown. The extra point was good again and Fluvanna led 28-21 with three minutes left in the quarter.
Bullock boomed his kick-off into the end zone, and Madison started at its own 20-yard line. The Flucos intercepted a third down pass and started at Madison’s 24. A Fluco touchdown run was nullified by a block in the back penalty. It hardly mattered. Christmas ran it in for another touchdown with 1:09 left in the quarter.
On Madison’s first play from scrimmage they tried to throw long, but Fluco senior defensive back Austin Craig was there to intercept. He made a weaving return all the way to the Madison four-yard line. Fluco senior fullback Nathan Smith pounded it into the end zone as the quarter expired. A two-point extra point was good and the Flucos led 42-21, after a 35-0 quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Madison and Fluvanna traded touchdowns. Madison scored a touchdown on its first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter. Their extra point try was no good but they had reduced the lead to 15 points. However, after a failed onside kick by Madison, the Flucos quickly scored and recorded a two-point conversion to make the score 50-27.
Madison came back and marched down the field for another touchdown to make the score 50-35 with 7:59 left in the game. The Flucos had to punt and Bullock pinned the Mountaineers back at their own seven. After a couple of Madison first downs, the Fluco defense held on downs and Fluvanna took over at the Fluco 45. The Flucos powered the ball downfield with Smith and Towler Wescoat carrying the ball up the middle. Junior quarterback Christian Holland ended the extensive scoring with a sneak up the middle with 1:16 on the clock. Holland shared the quarterbacking duties with freshman Kobe Edwards, who scored the Flucos’ first half touchdown on a similar quarterback sneak.
After the game, first year Coach Mike Morris was ebullient regarding his team’s play. When asked who were the standouts on his offensive line, which completely dominated, he said it was “a total team effort.” He was very pleased that his players did not get down when Madison went ahead in the first half, but instead bounced back decisively. He also noted that the timing of the game worked out well for the Flucos. They had a bye week followed by a Wednesday game and that will allow a couple of extra days for preparation for the Monticello game at home Sept. 21.
“The Fluco running game was awesome, with 471 yards gained,” said J. Gray, assistant coach, in an email. “Christmas ran for 214 yards and three touchdowns, plus his 75-yard kick return for a touchdown. Smith gained 83 yards on the ground, mostly straight up the middle.”
After hosting the Mustangs, the Flucos travel to Orange Sept. 28 and then host the Charlottesville Black Knights Oct. 5.
