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Louisa races past Monticello

In a disappointing loss to Goochland a week ago, Louisa County’s inability to finish drives sealed their fate.

Against Monticello Friday night, the Lions made sure that didn’t happen again.

Playing in front of a packed house in Mineral, Louisa (6-3, 4-2 JD) relied on a tough ground attack that tallied over 220 rushing yards and easily dispatched Monticello, 40-14, for a decisive Jefferson District win.

“We put all the pressure on our offensive line.  We told them it was their responsibility and if they didn’t step up, they [had to] fix things,” Louisa Coach Mark Fischer said.  “It didn’t take much to motivate them this week. It was a team loss and we came back and got a team win.”

As he has done for much of the season, Fischer rotated runners all evening and found success early and often. Anthony Hunter got the Lions off to a fast start, capping a 10-play, 49-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run on Louisa’s opening possession.

Nearly every time Fischer called his number, Hunter, who amassed 43 yards on 8 carries, made the most of it, tacking on two more scores in the contest.  The junior found the end zone on a 1-yard spurt to put Louisa up 28-0 just before the half, then shrugged off a host of Monticello defenders on an 11-yard touchdown run in the opening minutes of the third quarter. CJ Lambert’s interception of a Garrett Mullaney pass and the ensuing 31-yard return set up the score.

Sophomore Andre Mealy and senior Rashawn Jackson led the Lions rushing attack, tallying 68 and 63 yards respectively. Much of Mealy’s yardage came in the opening half, including a 17-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Senior Glen Cosby added Louisa’s other touchdown, taking a direct snap then scampering 11 yards to pay dirt to give Louisa a 21-0 advantage with just under six minutes remaining before the break.

“That’s what they do is run the ball. I think we had a good scheme for them but man for man they were just better than we were tonight,” Monticello Coach Brud Bicknell said of his team’s struggles to stop a chorus of Lion runners.

Louisa’s swarming defense outmanned the Mustangs (3-6, 2-4 JD) too, shutting down a ground game that found plenty of success in Monticello’s win over Charlottesville a week ago. Monticello managed just 95 yards of total offense as Louisa held their most powerful weapon, running back CJ Page, to just 16 rushing yards on 10 carries.

“[Page] was the focus of our defense.  We wanted to make somebody else beat us and not let him beat us,” Fischer said.  “Fortunately, our kids stepped up and met the challenge.”

Page did pull off one big play for the Mustangs.  Following a 34-yard Elijah Payne field goal that gave Louisa a 38-0 advantage late in the third quarter, the senior fielded the Lions’ kickoff and found plenty of room to run. His 70-yard return set up a 3-yard Jesse Ayers scoring burst three plays later.

Ayers added one more score for the Mustangs in the game’s final minute, capping a 7-play, 59-yard drive with a 1-yard run.

The Lions completed their scoring barrage when Louis Allon forced a Monticello safety with just over five minutes remaining.

Louisa will try to keep their playoff hopes alive next Friday night when they host border rival Fluvanna while Monticello looks to rebound at home against William Monroe.

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