By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
LYNCHBURG – One measure of a good team is how it responds to adversity.
And Fork Union passed its toughest test with flying colors in the VISAA Division I semifinals on Friday night.
The No. 4 seed Blue Devils overcame their mistakes and got big plays from their defense as they stunned top-seeded Liberty Christian Academy 16-10 at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium.
With the win FUMA secured a spot in the state championship game, which will be played next Saturday in Richmond.
“We wanted this one bad – we wanted it more than they did. We worked hard for it. We worked hard in practice and we played through some adversity,” said Fork Union’s Richie Dyer, who scored on a 63-yard run in the first quarter. “The line blocked really well and we just played together as a team and came out on top.”
The Blue Devils (6-5) led the entire game and built a 16-3 fourth-quarter lead as Jordan Roach connected on a 17-yard field goal attempt.
Fork Union appeared poised to extend its advantage as it drove deep into Bulldogs’ territory, but the visitors fumbled and Rennell Marshall recovered to give LCA the ball with 4:15 to play.
The Bulldogs made the Blue Devils pay, as quarterback Seth Good immediately hooked up with Lucas Smissen for a 45-yard gain. Seven plays later, LCA, aided by a FUMA penalty, reached the end zone as Marshall punched it in from 1 yard out.
The Blue Devils were forced to punt on their following drive, giving the host team another opportunity.
But Fork Union clamped down on the defensive end, keeping Good in check the rest of the way. LCA turned the ball over on downs and failed to convert on fourth-and-1 before the celebration ensued on the FUMA sidelines.
“We made some mistakes but we did what we talked about all week, which was respond to adversity, not get your head down and keep playing. And we did,” Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan said. “We fumbled on the 1-yard line with a chance to score. But the kids kept coming back. We just played great defense and offensively we did what we had to do. And we get to play 48 more minutes – that’s what we worked for all year.
Fork Union’s defense came up with big plays all night, intercepting Good three times, including a critical pick by Richard Quittenton in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils also sacked Good twice and recovered three fumbles. Good, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior finished 12 for 35 passing for 145 yards.
“We just had guys one right after another come in the ballgame, step up and do great things,” Sullivan added. “They just played hard.”
Christian Hackenberg was effective for FUMA, completing 10 of his 21 passes for 123 yards. Hackenberg’s 31-yard strike to D.J. Randle-El late in the third quarter helped seal the victory. Dyer led the way with 72 yards rushing, while Quadaris Newkirk caught four passes for 41 yards.
Fork Union will play the winner of Collegiate-St. Christopher’s in the title game. Interestingly, FUMA has beaten both teams this year on the road.
