By Duncan Nixon
It was a terrific game for the spectators, who certainly got their money’s worth. The Flucos’ offense piled up over 400 yards against a tough Spotsylvania squad, winning 44-36. This was a game highlighted by big plays.
The Flucos won the coin toss and elected to receive. It was an excellent decision. Junior Jacob Loving took the kickoff all the way back for an 85-yard touchdown return. Senior Matteo Viscardi kicked his first of five successful extra points for a 7-0 lead. The first half was all Fluvanna. The Flucos led 31-6 at halftime. Spotsylvania scored its touchdown with less than two minutes left in the half.
On the Flucos’ first possession, they marched down the field and converted two fourth-down plays. Senior running back Garrett Jordan punched it into the end zone from the 3-yard line. The extra point was good, and the Flucos were off to a stellar start, leading 14-0 with 4:37 left in the opening quarter. Spotsylvania went three-and-out and punted.
On the Flucos’ first play from scrimmage after the Knights’ punt, Jordan took a handoff from senior quarterback Jack Pace, swept to the right and was off to the races. Two defenders got a hand on Jordan, but he shook them off and was gone. Once in the open, it is unlikely that anyone will catch this top-rated sprinter. The 76-yard touchdown run and point after gave the Flucos a 21-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. It looked like a blowout was in the works.
On the Flucos’ first possession of the second quarter, they scored their fourth touchdown. The big play of the drive was a pass from Pace on which senior Brody Shields made an outstanding catch. The touchdown came on a short pass from Pace to junior tight end Jake McCall. Spotsylvania made a couple of first downs but failed on a fourth-down attempt, and the Flucos were back on offense. The Knights managed to force a field-goal attempt, and Viscardi’s kick was good, giving the Flucos what looked like an insurmountable 31-0 lead.
With 1:57 left in the half, the Knights’ quarterback scrambled left, and two Fluco defenders came up, leaving a halfback uncovered. A short flip over the defenders resulted in a touchdown of more than 50 yards. The score at the half was 31-6.
Spotsylvania took the second-half kickoff at its 30-yard line. A pass and a facemask penalty took the ball to the Fluco 15, and three plays later, the Knights scored and converted the two-point attempt to make it 31-14. Two more Spotsylvania touchdowns and two-point conversions narrowed the Flucos’ advantage to one point at 31-30.
The Flucos bounced right back. On their first play from scrimmage, Pace hit Loving, who was in the open at about the Fluco 25. He slanted across the field and carried the ball all the way for a 51-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Flucos led 37-30 going into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter began with a long, time-consuming drive by the Flucos. The drive culminated in a quick, short pass from Pace to Shields for the Flucos’ sixth touchdown of the game and a 44-30 lead. On Spotsylvania’s first play, the Knights scored on an 80-yard pass. Their extra-point attempt failed, and the Flucos led 44-36.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Knights, and another touchdown and two-point conversion would have tied the score. A long pass looked like it had put the Knights inside the Fluco 20, but an offensive pass-interference call nullified the play and moved the Knights back 15 yards. The Fluco defense held, and the Knights turned the ball over on downs. The Flucos ran out the clock for the 44-36 win.
The Flucos posted some very impressive statistics in their season-opening win. Jordan ran 26 times for an impressive 202 yards and two touchdowns. Pace had an outstanding first start, completing 11 of 15 passes for 136 yards, with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Loving had 182 yards of offense, with 23 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards, and a long kickoff return for a touchdown. Shields had five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. Viscardi was five for five on extra points and kicked a field goal. It was an excellent performance at the high school level.
Next up for the Flucos is a trip to Buckingham High. They will then host Chancellor High on Sept. 10. After a bye week, they will start their Jefferson District schedule with a home game against perennial power Louisa County.
