Albemarle’s J’Quan Anderson had just led the Patriots on a 17-play, 97-yard go-ahead drive Friday night, running nine times on that march.
His backfield-mate Jamal Thompson knew Anderson was a little more worn out than he was so he told him to switch spots on defense, moving to corner so Anderson would have a slightly easier job at safety.
“He told me to switch because he knew I was tied and he knew that he had more energy and that he was going to make the play,” Anderson said. “When he told me to switch and the ball went in the air, I knew what time it was.”
Thompson made the switch count, picking off an errant Charlottesville throw before racing more than 50 yards for a touchdown that helped put away a 26-18 come-from-behind win over the Black Knights. Albemarle scored 26-straight points to drop the Black Knights
“It was big, I was so happy,” Thompson said. “It was just a great moment for us, a great moment for the team.”
The win came on the heels of a tumultuous week for the Patriots as the coaching staff, led by Jeff Willy and Jermaine Dias, stepped up to prepare Albemarle (4-2) for the critical Jefferson District clash with head coach Brandon Isaiah tending to the birth of his daughter, Madisyn Taylor Isaiah on Tuesday.
“My coaching staff, I don’t know if those guys get enough credit,” Isaiah said. “My daughter was born Tuesday and they gave me the opportunity to spend time with my family all week, I didn’t come to practice, didn’t coach, they coached the kids, got them dressed and got them ready to go. That’s just a reflection of what we’re trying to do here, having guys you can trust, building a family.”
Things didn’t start out so storybook for the Patriots as they fell into an 18-0 hole with Charlottesville (4-2) putting together a strong first half with their usual solid run game and a bend-but-don’t-break defense. Tre Durrett, Rakeem Davis and Lorenzo Louderback each notched touchdowns to build that lead, and all while playing on just five days of rest after beating Monticello on Monday. But after that the Black Knights appeared to simply run out of gas.
“You’ve got to credit them, they made some plays,” said Charlottesville coach Eric Sherry. “We had some lapses mentally, but you’ve got to credit them. We’ve got to find a way to fight through and clean up.”
Albemarle’s comeback started with two second quarter touchdowns by Thompson, who raced in from 21 yards out on a throw from Anderson. On the ensuing drive, Zykal Foster had a strip sack and recovered the fumble, setting the Patriots up with a short field. After a 27-yard run by Tyquan Rose on a reverse, Thompson punched it in from three yards out.
The Black Knights appeared to counter when Sam Neale found Sabias Folley for an apparent touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half but it was called back for an ineligible receiver penalty and time ran out on the Black Knights.
In the third quarter, the Patriots’ defense stepped up, with a scheme adjustment that helped put fast, powerful linebacker Teshawn Massie opposite Folley in an effort to disrupt the Black Knights’ rhythm after Folley gained most of his 121 yards in the first half (including a 64-yard run).
“I told my coach, put me in the middle, I’ll hold it down,” Massie said. “I had to make plays for my team. Sabias is a big dude, a good player. My d-line held it down though.”
Charlottesville couldn’t counter, struggling to move the ball much for the entire second half. But the Black Knights did manage to pin the Patriots on their own three. But that’s when Anderson went to work, rushing for 75 yards on nine carries during the go-ahead drive that also had a dash of Thompson (22 yards on five touches) and Rose (one carry, five yards).
“For us to come back and win this game as a group and as a family means so much to me,” Isaiah said. “I know how much the coaches and the boys wanted to be there for me and wanted to do it. I feel blessed to be a part of it.”
Thompson’s pick-six came two plays later on the errant Charlottesville throw, and there was some controversy about whether he fumbled near the goal line while trying to score. The touchdown actually helped Charlottesville in a way as they got the ball back down eight with a chance to score rather than if Albemarle had been able to milk the clock.
“He’s always talking about how he wants a pick six and he finally got what he wanted,” Rose said of Thompson.
Charlottesville drove into Albemarle territory, but the drive stalled as time ticked away and an incomplete pass on fourth down squashed any hopes of a chance to tie. Anderson trotted back on the field to take a knee and complete an incredible week for the Patriots, who have preached family for some time and saw it in action in a big way this week.
“Charlottesville is a great team and (Isaiah) wasn’t there this entire week, so our assistant coaches got us ready for this game, just kept us focused,” Anderson said. “They told us it wasn’t going to be easy, it was going to be a dogfight. Coming over here to Charlottesville and getting a win is the best feeling, especially with your family.”
Anderson rushed for 90 yards and a score on 20 carries and threw for another 141 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Thompson rushed for 53 yards. Lorenz Brown had three catches for 34 yards while Stephen Yoder notched 36 yards on two catches. Rose finished with 54 yards of total offense.
Louderback had a typically monster night for Charlottesville on defense with an interception, a sack and a fumble recovery plus 24 yards and a touchdown on offense. Sam Neale hurt the Patriots early, rushing for four carries of 13 or more yards in the first quarter. He finished with 77 yards on the day. Tre Durrett chipped in 46 yards and a touchdown before an ankle injury took him out of the lineup in the second half.
Albemarle will look to keep the momentum going against Fluvanna next Friday while Charlottesville hosts Powhatan the same night for homecoming.
