Fluco football falls in playoffs to Brookville High 6-16
By Duncan Nixon, correspondent
It was cold, but the rain had stopped before the fifth-seeded Flucos took the field against the fourth-seeded Brookville Bees on Friday (Nov. 9) in the Class 3, Division C, VHSL playoffs. The game was played at Amherst High instead of at the Bees’ home field, because the pre-game rain would have been a problem on the Brookville natural turf field.
This game was a battle of predominately running teams. When the teams passed, the threat of interceptions seemed to be fairly high. Due to turnovers scoring was limited.
In the first quarter the Flucos went three and out, and the Bees responded with a long, time consuming drive. However, when the Bees achieved a first and goal the Fluco defense stiffened. The Flucos stopped the Brookville advance on downs, taking over at the one-yard line. Two runs netted only two yards and on third down the Bees broke through to tackle Fluco wing back Prophett Harris in the end zone for a safety with only 2:54 left in the quarter.
The Flucos had to punt after the safety and the Bees started in excellent position at the Fluco 47. On their second play, Harris intercepted for the Flucos. An 11-yard run by Harris and a 16-yard run by fullback Nathan Smith took the ball to the Brookville 42. The quarter ended with Brookville up by 2-0.
Shortly after the second quarter started, the Flucos faced a fourth down and seven at the Brookville 37. Fluco Coach Mike Morris decided to go for the first down. Freshman quarterback Kobe Edmonds rolled right and quickly decided to run. It was a good decision. He weaved downfield, broke a tackle and made a good cut back for a 37-yard touchdown run. The Fluco extra point attempt failed and Flucos led 6-2 with 10:45 left in the quarter.
Fluco kicker Elijah Bullock put the kick-off in the end zone for a touchback, forcing the Bees to start at their 20-yard line. Unfortunately for the Flucos, the first Brookville play was a 55-yard run to the Fluco 25. With five more plays, the Bees ran the ball into the end zone with 4:14 left in the half. Their extra point kick was good and they led 9-6.
On the ensuing Brookville possession, the Bees moved the ball on the ground, but when they went to the air, Harris recorded another interception. The half ended with Brookville up 9-6.
On the Brookville first possession of the second half, the Bees moved the ball to the Fluco 25, but Fluco defensive back Colby Martin intercepted at the goal line. The Flucos went three and out and punted. The Bees started with good field possession, but after a couple first downs they fumbled and Martin recovered. The Flucos moved the ball for three consecutive first downs. Brookville was worried. However, its defense held and with a fourth and three and the ball at the 27, Morris elected to try for a tie score. The field goal attempt by Bullock from 45 yards out was just short.
The third quarter was scoreless and the teams went to the final quarter with a 6-9 score. It is fairly certain that neither team expected that after three quarters there would only be two touchdowns on the board.
The fourth quarter started with both teams having to punt. Unfortunately for the Flucos, on their second possession of the fourth quarter, the Bees broke off a 61-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and the Bees had a 10-point lead that stood up, as the Flucos’ final two drives ended with interceptions by Brookville. After the game Morris, though disappointed, noted that his squad put up a serious fight against a Brookville team that has a long running winning tradition. He noted that, again, turnovers were a Fluvanna problem. However, a winning season has to be considered a success.
The Fluco season ends with a 6-5 record. This record is more impressive than might be expected. All five of the teams to which the Flucos lost were playoff teams, and two were teams that play in a higher class than the Flucos (they have larger enrollment). The Flucos are Class 3, a smaller medium-size school; Louisa is Class 4, a larger medium-size school; and Albemarle High is Class 5, a smaller large-size school.
