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Another Step: Louisa County storms past Fluvanna to stay unbeaten

Photo by Bob Kenward

 

Louisa County’s football team head to Fluvanna on Friday night looking to make sure they stayed undefeated, a necessity in the Lions’ challenging Region 4B playoff race.  

 

They did so in emphatic fashion, storming past the Flucos in a 42-7 win powered by big-time special teams play including Jaylen Beach’s 80-yard kick return for a touchdown.

 

“It was really good to see, (we) had two weeks to practice and got focused, and our goal was to come out here and play a clean football game, and we did that for the most part,” said Louisa coach Will Patrick.

 

Clean is an understatement, the Lions were ruthlessly efficient. Fluvanna received the football first but the Lions set the tone early, forcing a three-and-out to set up the offense. The offense matched that tone, marching down the field and capping the first drive with a 34-yard touchdown run from Jordan Smith. Smith ended the night with 43 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

 

Louisa found points on that first drive and never looked back, forcing three straight three-and-outs from the Flucos while finding the endzone on all three of their first drives, growing their lead to 20-0. Landon Wilson got involved in the scoring for the Lions on both drives, diving in for a rushing touchdown and finding Chase Miller for 27 yards on the other score. Wilson ended with 82 passing yards on 6-for-10 passing as well as three carries for 13 yards and two total touchdowns.

 

“We had a lot of energy tonight — it picked up throughout the game,” Wilson said.

 

The Flucos finally found a way to break through in the half.  AJ Wyche picked off a Wilson pass to set his team up in the red zone, and Owen Leydig eventually punched it in. That got the Flucos on the board late in the first half, trailing 20-7.

 

But Louisa answered as Jaylen Beach took a kickoff 80 yards to the house, getting that score back and permanently tilting the momentum back toward the Lions. They kept the Flucos off the board for the remainder of the game, and kept control of the game until the final horn sounded. 

 

Louisa running back Kalep Shelton had another standout performance, carrying the ball 11 times for 95 yards on the ground.

 

“These kids are just playing so hard, I can’t ask them to do any more, they’re lining up right and communicating and playing with passion, pride, spirit, and enthusiasm and that’s what I love about this group of young men,” said Patrick.

 

The Lions will travel to Western Albemarle next week to face the 3-1 Warriors, while the Flucos will host Orange County. 

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