By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
GOOCHLAND – Prior to the season-opener against rival Fluvanna County, Goochland coach Joe Fowler said he didn’t think his team had performed well enough in its two preseason scrimmages to “earn its stripes.” So on Friday the Bulldogs played without the “G” on their helmets.
Well, it didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to earn the respect of their coaches and everyone in attendance as the 2011 Group A, Division 2 finalists scored three touchdowns in just under four minutes en route to a 42-7 victory over the Flucos.
Senior Mitchell Brice helped the Bulldogs to the explosive start, as he accounted for all three of the team’s first-quarter scores, including one on defense.
“He’s an electric football player,” Fowler said. “We hadn’t really cut him loose in the preseason but tonight we gave him the ball in some big spots and he paid off. He’s a gamer and he makes big plays in front of big crowds.”
Goochland (1-0) used a four-play drive to take the early lead, courtesy of a 47-yard jaunt by Brice. Just a minute later, the senior picked up a loose ball after a fumble by Fluvanna’s Dashon Tibbs and ran it 25 yards for the score. Brice led all ball carriers with 72 yards on three carries.
Goochland intercepted Tibbs’ pass on the Flucos’ following possession and wasted little time in extending their lead. Brice found the end zone again after a 24-yard scamper and Raleigh Marria converted on his third straight point after attempt to give the home team a 21-0 advantage.
“We’re just pleased that we played well. We hadn’t played well to our standards in the first two scrimmages,” Fowler said. “And a lot of that is that we have so much youth in so many places and our seniors stepped up in a big, big way. And when our young kids got the opportunity, they made some plays, especially on special teams.”
On its following possession, Fluvanna made its way inside the Goochland 10-yard line, but the drive stalled as Cristian Franco was unable to convert on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
The Bulldogs added a second-quarter score after methodically making their way down the field using a host of running backs. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson capped the drive with a 24-yard run down the left sideline. Goochland rushed for 185 yards in the first half and finished with 214 yards on the ground as six different backs touched the ball.
“They came out and played extremely hard,” Fluvanna coach Jason Barnett said. “Those guys run the same stuff over and over again, but they’re so good at it. We have to stay within our system and we can’t have as many breakdowns as we had.”
After forcing the Flucos to go three-and-out on their opening drive of the second half, Goochland took advantage of a short field. Connor Saunders broke free for a 49-yard TD and added the two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs a 35-0 lead. Saunders and teammate Nathan Mattox rushed for 53 yards apiece.
Goochland continued to excel on both sides of the ball, and on Fluvanna’s next possession, Mason Engel came up with an interception.
That play set up the Bulldogs’ final score, a 37-yard pass play from Jefferson to Brice.
“That was the one thing we said we needed to avoid — we can’t give up the big play,” Barnett said. “And when we gave up big plays, we gave up big plays for scores and when we forced them to drive, I feel like we played well on both sides.”
A late interception by Joey Shaheen set up the Flucos’ lone score. Fluvanna used a 5-play, 41-yard drive to avoid a shutout as Austin Foster, who replaced Tibbs at quarterback, made his way in the end zone from 15 yards out.
Fluvanna (1-1) entertains Spotsylvania on Friday, while Goochland plays host to Fork Union.
“It’s David and Goliath,” Fowler said of the matchup, in which Goochland prevailed last year. “And we’re going to try to do the best we can to slow them down a little bit.”
