A week after lifting Western Albemarle with a trio of interceptions in a shutout win over Monticello, Nic Drapanas got it done on offense Friday night against Powhatan in a 30-10 victory over the Indians.
“We could run the ball well and that set up the passing for all of our receivers to get in on the action,” Drapanas said.
Drapanas scored three touchdowns, one on the ground and two from quarterback Kent Henry. Drapanas, a junior wideout/redzone running back, scored on three of his nine touches and even threw an 11-yard pass on a receiver option pass to Daniel Kuzjak for good measure.
Drapanas and the rest of the Warriors’ skill position players got a huge boost from an offensive line that has come together in a big way in the early stages of the season. The unit largely had their way with the Indians, getting more of an inside run game going than the Warriors have had much of the year.
“Any offensive line that’s worth anything, they bond because they don’t get many accolades,” said Western coach Ed Redmond. “I think they take a lot of pride in protecting our quarterback and then when it’s their turn to smack people and run the ball, I think they get some enjoyment out of that.”
Western’s balanced offense piled up 198 yards on the ground, with Henry going for 119 yards while running backs Trevor Harlow and Justin Haws combined for 59 yards. That success on the ground, particularly on the game’s opening drive, seemed to open things up for the Warriors in the passing game where Henry threw for 145 yards and completed an efficient 12 of 19 passes, including the two touchdowns to Drapanas.
“Everybody got the wheels turning and just kept them spinning,” Henry said.
The game started off like shootout, with both teams marching nearly effortlessly on their opening drives to touchdowns. But the Warriors defense picked it up from there and clamped down, holding Powhatan to just 159 yards in total offense. The pressure from the Western front forced an array of quick, inaccurate passes by the Indians, whos’ quarterback Joe Lewis completed just four of 17 passes while under what felt like constant assault from the Warriors.
“I thought our defensive staff did another outstanding job with the scheme,” Redmond said. “Our gameplan was pretty simple — they just kind of get kids in the right spot and then play. I was pleased the way our defense stepped up.”
The win ended Powhatan’s 61-game win streak, the final five of which came in the Jefferson District in 2011 but was largely built in the Southside.
While the Indians struggled on offense, sophomore L.J. Jackson was a bright spot with 98 yards and the lone touchdown on 15 touches. Several times, Jackson shook loose for positive yards when there wasn’t anything there initially.
One of the more intriguing and dead-even matchups featured talented Powhatan cornerback Norris Goode going toe-to-toe with Daniel Kuzjak, Central Virginia’s leading receiver. Kuzjak finished with five catches for 52 yards, but he head to fight for all of it and Goode kept him out of the endzone. The Warriors’ depth, however, in the form of Drapanas, hurt the Indians.
Western’s gauntlet continues as the Warriors go toe-to-toe with Charlottesville, the other team now tied for first place in the Jefferson District after the Black Knights’ stunner over Monticello. The Warriors will host as it’s homecoming for Western.
