Western Albemarle linebacker Ross Bassett has been in on a number of big defensive plays this season, but had yet to hear his name called on special teams. Bassett is often tasked with putting pressure on the opposing punter, and has been searching for his first career blocked kick all year.
On Friday night against Monticello, the junior made his usual impact on defense, and finally cashed in on that elusive, impact play on special teams. After forcing the Mustangs to a three-and-out in the first quarter, Bassett got a chance.
“I had been watching a lot of film this week, and their punter was abnormally stepped up. The guy on the edge didn’t see me, I guess, and I just ran as fast as I could,” Bassett said of the blocked punt. “It hit me in the stomach, and it hurt, but it was worth it.”
The block led to a Western Albemarle touchdown on the next play from scrimmage, and set the tone for a big night for the home team. The Warriors, behind another stout defensive effort from Bassett and company, cruised to a 41-6 win over rival Monticello on senior day.
With the win and Louisa’s loss to Albemarle, the Warriors (8-1) can wrap up at least a share of the Jefferson District title next week at Orange County.
Western Albemarle limited its opponent to a touchdown or less for the sixth time this season and has allowed just six points in the last eight quarters combined.
Bassett was in on a number of tackles, but the blocked punt was easily the highlight of the night for the 216-pound playmaker. Facing a fourth down-and-long deep in his own territory, Monticello’s Carter Trout squared up to punt, only to be met by a diving Bassett, and sophomore Cyrus Hammer fell on top of the ball for the Warriors.
Bassett and the Warrior defense limited Monticello to 104 yards of total offense, and just 2.3 yards per play.
The Mustangs snapped the ball on Western’s side of the field just once in the first quarter, and would not make it into Western territory until the closing minutes of the first half. Monticello’s lone touchdown came off of a one-yard run by Logan Clark in the fourth quarter, on a drive in which MHS started at the Western 31. By that point, Western had built a 34-0 lead and were cruising towards win number eight on the season.
“Our defense has been pretty solid all year except for that Louisa thing we ran into and they put it to us,” Western Albemarle head coach Ed Redmond said. “It’s been a year of adversity, and our guys have rallied around the next-man-up mentality and I was proud of our effort on defense tonight.”
Friday’s game marked the second straight start for quarterback Joey Burch, who took the reins following a season-ending injury to Nathan Simon on October 15. Burch had an 11-yard touchdown run following Bassett’s block punt, and tossed a pretty 31-yard strike to Aidan Carver-Woodson later in the first half.
The senior only threw four passes and had just six rushing attempts, as the Warriors aimed to spread the ball around to gear up for the stretch-run of the season.
“We’re going slow with Joe,” Redmond said. “He offers us a little different skillset than [Simon], so we’ve had to adapt and adjust. When you lose your quarterback two-thirds through the season, you have to work at things, and not many high school teams can endure that. We’re lucky to have Joe, and he’s certainly coming along. He’s getting a lot of reps in practice and that’s helping him.”
Burch also had a nifty 25-yard punt return, which set up the touchdown pass to Carver-Woodson two plays later. At quarterback, the senior rarely had to put the ball in the air, thanks to the bevy of running backs that all made their mark on the game.
Kaden Morrow got the lion’s share of the carries early on, and he led the way with 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns from three and two yards out respectively. Morrow set up the latter score with a 65-yard run on the opening play of Western’s third offensive series of the game.
Fullback Kyle Keyton was the short-yardage back, and he was rewarded with his hard work with a one-yard run to paydirt on the opening series of the third quarter. The scoring drive went 11 plays and took over six minutes off of the clock.
With the game well in hand, Fan-favorite Dustin “Bubba” Shifflett took over at running back in the fourth quarter. Shifflett tallied 114 yards off of just eight carries, highlighted by a 32-yard TD run.
It may have been senior night, but the junior, Shifflett got to polish off the win, all while receiving loud praise from his teammates and the Western study body.
“I see [Shifflett] growing every day in practice,” Morrow said. “Every time he hits a hole, he just takes it. “Seeing every one of these kids grow, I’ve been here three years, so I didn’t grow up with them, so seeing [Shifflett] and them all grow from my sophomore year to my junior year is just awesome.”
The Western Albemarle offense did cough up the ball three times, with Tyler Cowgill and Finn Vargo recovering two of the three fumbles for Monticello.
The Mustangs will conclude the regular season against rival Charlottesville next Friday night.
The Warriors have a chance to claim at least a share of their first Jefferson District Championship since 2015 with a win at Orange in their season finale. Western defeated the Hornets at Porterfield Park back on April 2 of the spring season.
Western had a slim chance at the postseason, win-or-lose, the last time these two teams met, but with a JD title and an opportunity at grabbing one of the top seeds in the region, the Warriors know that there is plenty at stake this time around.
“We’ve worked really hard, so for us, [winning the district title] would mean more than anything we’ve ever experienced at Western,” Bassett said. “We’ve worked for moments like this for a long time and for something like that to happen, it would be really special.”
