By Liz Keller /Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
FORK UNION – Liberty Christian Academy used a balanced attack and withstood an impressive fourth-quarter rally from Fork Union on Friday afternoon to stay unbeaten on the year.
Bulldogs’ quarterback Seth Good was as good as advertised, as he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead LCA to the 35-20 victory.
“We did a lot of good things. We played a little more consistent than we have,” Liberty Christian coach Frank Rocco said. “They’re just too powerful of a team to ever put your guard down and think that the game’s over. FUMA has an outstanding football program – big, strong, very athletic, so we respect them a great deal.”
LCA (7-0) took the early lead with a 1-yard TD run from Ronnie Stringfield, then extended its advantage with a score from Ray Jones (1-yard run).
Fork Union marched down the field on the following drive, aided by a 31-yard pass play from Richard Quittenton to Quadaris Newkirk. But on fourth-and-goal, the Bulldogs clamped down on the goal line to thwart the drive.
LCA forced the Blue Devils to go three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half and took advantage of great field position to build their lead to 21-0. Good found a wide-open Josh Barrick for a 33-yard TD play to cap the 5-play, 52-yard drive.
After a Fork Union (2-4) turnover, Good, a 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback, started the fourth quarter on the right foot, as he tacked on a 1-yard touchdown to give LCA a 28-0 advantage.
“We just made too many mistakes early and put ourselves in a big hole and couldn’t get out,” Fork Union coach Micky Sullivan said. “You can’t make mistakes like that against good people and expect to win. Early in the ballgame we just didn’t block very well up front. They didn’t do anything that we didn’t see in practice, we just didn’t execute very well.”
However, in the fourth quarter, FUMA got its offense going and began the comeback. The Blue Devils took to the air, as Christian Hackenberg piloted the drive down field. On fourth-and-one, Hackenburg connected with Keevin Allen for a 4-yard TD.
On LCA’s next drive, Andre Parker picked off Good’s pass, and Fork Union capitalized.
FUMA cut the lead to 28-13 after Hackenberg found Newkirk from 1 yard out. Newkirk paced FUMA with 135 yards on six catches.
However, the Bulldogs recovered a dropped punt and made the Blue Devils pay. Good (12-for-19 passing, 204 yards) hooked up with Demitri Knowles for a 14-yard TD play.
“Seth did a great job. He forced one ball that was picked,” Rocco said. “But other than that I think he took care of the ball real well and made good throws and got us into the end zone, and that’s the key. To score 35 on these guys is impressive and we feel good about that.”
Quittenton added an 18-yard touchdown run with 1:03 to play, but it was too little, too late.
Both quarterbacks were bright spots for FUMA. Hackenberg finished with 149 yards passing, while Quittenton completed three passes for 76 yards.
Fork Union will get another tough test next Friday on the road at Collegiate. LCA travels to Hargrave Military Academy.
