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Defense dominated opening night in Lynchburg, but homestanding 3A-West contender Brookville grabbed momentum with an early special teams touchdown and cashed in on short fields to earn a 21-0 win over Albemarle.
“I’m kind of in awe,” said Brookville coach Jon Meeks, as the Bees’ defense allowed just 113 yards for the game and forced four turnovers. “Guys were flying around. We thought we were going to have a pretty decent defense coming back after last year. Just the hustle, intensity, and turnovers,[…]I couldn’t be prouder.”
“We just packed the box and put the linebackers in tight,” said senior linebacker Dayton Trent. “We went with a 5-front, and I think it’s unbeatable.”
Albemarle’s squad was comparably stout, giving up only 40 yards on the ground and 42 total after halftime.
“Defense played great football; if they continue to play like that, we have some stuff to build on,” said Albemarle coach Brandon Isaiah. “It’s not one of those situations where we’re going home with our heads tucked between our legs.”
With Brookville’s opening kickoff six minutes before the scheduled 7pm start time, some visiting fans making the trek down Route 29 from Charlottesville may not have found their seats when, after an AHS three-and-out, the Bees’ junior return man Tarell Poe chased down a bouncing punt at his own 39 and sliced his way through the coverage for the season’s first touchdown.
“I looked at it and I was second guessing myself, like, ‘should I do it?’” said Poe, as coaches on the home sideline yelled to get away. “I saw the opportunity and I took it.”
Brookville ended Albemarle’s next possession with an interception on second down, but the ensuing four series were all three-and-outs. On the last of those, with AHS facing third and long, Trent sacked Patriot quarterback J’Quan Anderson back at the 6. With the Bees setup after the punt at the AHS 36, on second down senior quarterback Dylan Onuffer hit Ryan Perry for a 34-yard touchdown.
As the second quarter began with a 14-0 deficit, Albemarle’s offense continued to struggle with formations and pre-snap penalties. Their next series was foiled by a false start and two sacks, setting up Brookville again inside the Patriots’ 40.
“Offensively, we have talent and kids that can play, but right now we’re learning how to come together as a unit,” said Isaiah. “That’s just part of the growing process; jumping offsides, covering up a tight end, high snaps. That’s pretty much what I saw in the first half.”
Onuffer converted on third and long with a 16-yard completion to Devonte Carter, and junior running back Deion Jackson capped the seven-play drive with a four-yard plunge through the left side for the game’s third and final touchdown at 7:34 in the second quarter.
Though it came away with no points, Albemarle’s offense showed signs of life in the last minute of the half. The Patriots picked up their first first down when Anderson hit senior receiver Ethan Blundin over the middle for a gain of 35. Three plays later, time ran out when Anderson was stopped on a scramble at the Bees’ 22.
Albemarle also had several second-half close calls. After holding the Bees to three-and-out to start the third quarter, senior Sean Scott returned a punt to the Brookville 35. Two plays later, running back Jamal Thompson was stripped going to the ground, and the Bees recovered at their own 10. Nehemiah Lesesane sacked Onuffer on third and 12 to force another Brookville punt, and Albemarle put together an eight-play drive before Anderson’s fourth-down pass was intercepted in the endzone. After another punt, to start the fourth quarter Albemarle drove 66 yards in seven plays to the Brookville 1, but the Bees’ line stuffed back-to-back runs on third and fourth downs to preserve the shutout.
“It’s all in the details,” said Isaiah. “On that fourth down play, somebody was supposed to be on the other side of the formation. Now we have some tape to teach these young men. If we can get guys knowing where they’re supposed to be and doing the things they’re supposed to do, I’m really excited about the potential of this group.”
Anderson led the Patriots with 23 yards rushing on 15 attempts, and completed five of 12 passes for 56 yards. Tyquan Rose added 22 yards on three carries. For the Bees, Onuffer completed seven of 12 for 101 yards and a touchdown. Senior tailback Andrew Bell tallied a game-high 25 yards on seven rushes.
Albemarle (0-1) hosts Kettle Run (4A West, 0-1) next Friday.
