By Doc Purcell/Scrimmageplay.com Contributor
At playoff time a season ago, Louisa County was left on the outside looking in.
Not this year.
Thanks to their suffocating defense, the Lions (7-3, 5-2 JD) blanked Jefferson District and border rival Fluvanna County, 35-0, Friday night to remain perfect at home for the season and clinch their first regional playoff berth since a run to the state finals in 2006.
“It’s kind of ironic. We won our last game 35-0 last year and we didn’t go [to the playoffs.] This year, we won 35-0 and we are fortunate enough to get in. It’s nice and it’s exciting,” Louisa Coach Mark Fischer said.
The swarming Lion defense was anything but nice to the visiting Flucos (3-7, 2-5 JD) making an early game statement and never letting up. After a misplayed opening kickoff and a pair of penalties left Fluvanna pinned deep in their own territory, the Lions clamped down. Facing third and long, Fluco quarterback Ryan Foster searched for an option but Lion linebacker CJ Wilton slammed the senior signal-caller in the end zone forcing a safety and handing the Lions a 2-0 advantage barely a minute into the contest.
That possession set the tone for the night as Louisa’s suffocating defense held Fluvanna to a tepid 79 yards of total offense and threw Fluco ball carriers for a combined 42 yards in losses. Senior Brandon Ornduff led the way, collecting a team-high 12 tackles while sophomore Andre Mealy chipped in with five.
The Lions’ vaunted run defense was typically tough and they managed to ground the Flyin’ Flucos air attack too. Brandon Payne and Rashawn Jackson led that effort as each hauled in an interception and Payne broke up a pair of Foster passes. Foster finished the night with six completions in 20 attempts for 48 yards.
“This is just a testamant to what these kids have done all year. They have swarmed and just been an outstanding defensive unit,” Fischer said. “[This win] was a 100 percent [defense],”
While Fischer expressed disappointment in his offense’s blocking up front, Lion runners still managed to find their share of room to move, breaking tackles and grinding out nearly 270 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns.
Mealy and junior Anthony Hunter provided the Lions with a stellar one-two punch, plowing through the Fluvanna defense for 84 and 76 yards respectively. Hunter found the end zone three times including a 25-yard scamper that gave Louisa a 8-0 advantage just over two minutes into the game, a 4-yard run at the beginning of the fourth quarter and a 41-yard jaunt that put the Lions up 35-0 with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.
For his part, Mealy scored a pair of touchdowns that gave the Lions plenty of breathing room before the break, hitting paydirt on a 2-yard run late in the opening quarter then capping a 9-play, 67-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge just 29 seconds before the half.
Despite the loss, first-year Fluvanna Coach Rodney Redd was pround of his team’s effort and sees good things ahead for Fluco football.
“Our kids fought til the very end. [We are] competitive and getting better but still have a little ways to go before we turn the corner,” Redd said. “I feel good about the future of Fluco football. Interest is high right now and we’ve got a lot of young talent and I think a lot of the older guys that are leaving have laid a solid foundation.”
While Redd is planning for next year, Fischer is thinking about next week. The Lions benefitted from Region II’s expanded six team playoff system, claiming one of the final two slots alloted to Division four teams.
Louisa will travel to either Liberty of Bealeton or Loudon County next Friday night depending on the outcome of Handley and James Wood’s matchup Saturday afternoon. Accoriding to Fischer, if Handley prevails the Lions will meet Liberty but if the Judges’ lose, his squad will face Loudon County. Either way, the Lions will leave the comforts of the Jungle behind for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
