Top-ranked Western Albemarle exorcised the demons from last year’s lone regular-season loss in the The Jungle, but the Warriors’ senior quarterback suffered a scary injury in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter with their 41-19 victory in hand.
Until that moment, Sam Hearn had enjoyed a great night, completing 10 of 14 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, and picking up 62 more on the ground with two scores. The passing touchdown came on the game’s third snap, as he hit senior receiver Michael Vale for a 60-yard play. It was the first of Western’s five scoring plays of 37 yards or more.
In the first minute of the second quarter, senior running back Oliver Herndon ran straight through a tackle on the left edge and went 37 yards for a touchdown to cap a seven-play, 87-yard drive. Three minutes later, after a Louisa four-and-out setup Western in Lions’ territory, Herndon went left and found a clear lane again for a 38-yard touchdown. The Jungle was all but silenced as the Warriors led 21-0.
Senior D’Jon Shelton provided a spark on the ensuing kickoff with a 71-yards return into the redzone. Sophomore Malik Bell took the first handoff and went 11 yards to put Louisa on the board. After a sack derailed Western’s next drive and forced a punt, Louisa drove 80 yards in four plays, including carries of 30 and 31 yards by Job Whalen. Shelton scored from 17 yards, and the Lions were back within 21-13 heading into halftime.
After exchanging punts to start the third, Louisa drove 72 yards behind carries from five different runners. On fourth and 1, junior DeVante Shelton got his first of the night and raced 22 yards for Louisa’s third-straight touchdown. Western stopped Whalen short on the ensuing two-point attempt to maintain a 21-19 edge with 4:55 in the quarter.
With The Jungle crowd roaring again, Hearn put an end to his team’s scoring drought by breaking contain to the left on third and 12 and going 57 yards for a touchdown. After the teams traded turnovers, Louisa found itself at the Western 25 with a chance to answer; however, a holding penalty set the Lions back, and third- and fourth-down passes fell incomplete.
Herndon promptly widened the margin with a 67-yard touchdown run on Western’s next snap, and the Warriors entered the fourth with a 34-19 lead.
Louisa’s next two series ended near midfield with a turnover on downs and fumble. After the latter, Western drove 46 yards in six plays, and Hearn took it in around the right edge on fourth and two from the 9.
The unfortunate ending was set up after an attempted flanker screen by Louisa was disrupted by pressure, and Western fell on a ball that was ruled a lateral pass. With 3:30 to play and a 22-point lead, the starting offense took the field drove to the redzone, including a third-and-11 pass to Herndon for 24 yards. It was second and 4 at the 11 when Hearn was laid out by a defender on a handoff to the left.
After it was apparent that significant medical attention was needed, officials wound the clock for the final 15.8 seconds to expire. After both teams waited on their sidelines for more than twenty minutes for Hearn to be lifted from the ground, Western exited directly to the middle school. It was made apparent Saturday that both athletic directors agreed to skip the postgame handshake for fear of exacerbating tensions that were apparent after the final play.
Hearn’s family also indicated that he was resting comfortably at home Saturday after being diagnosed with a concussion.
Herndon led all rushers with 222 yards on 22 carries, and also caught five passes for 74 yards. Whalen led Louisa with 141 yards on 22 carries. Bell added 35 on eight touches.
Louisa (3-4, 2-2) hosts Monticello (5-2, 3-1) next Friday night for Homecoming. Western (6-1, 4-0) returns home to face Fluvanna (0-7, 0-4).
