For the second consecutive week, Louisa County controlled the trenches and used their signature rushing attack to defeat a Jefferson District foe.
The Lions got rushing touchdowns from three different backs, including two by Job Whalen, and used a stout second-half defensive effort and doubled up Orange County 28-14, spoiling the Hornets’ homecoming festivities at Porterfield Park Friday night. The win bumped the Lions’ overall record over .500 for the first time all season.
“It’s a great problem to have, having that many backs who can carry the ball,” Louisa head coach Mark Fischer said. “All of our running backs could probably start for anybody.”
Malik Bell opened the scoring not even three minutes into the game with a 33-yard touchdown run. The Lions (5-4, 4-2 JD) missed the extra point, however, and Orange jumped on top by virtue of a four-yard touchdown run from Trevon Smith two-and-a-half minutes later and the Hornets led 7-6.
Louisa responded by driving 75 yards in eight plays, capped off by Whalen’s first score of the night which gave the Lions a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with 2:41 to go in the first quarter. Orange (5-4, 3-3) nearly took the lead on the next drive, but an apparent touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty and the Hornets wound up turning the ball over on downs. Then the Lions made them pay for it when D’Jon Shelton broke free and sprinted 68 yards to paydirt, opening up a 20-7 lead.
Orange pulled to within six on a touchdown catch by Tyrone Warren with 2:42 to go before halftime, but Whalen got his second score, a 21-yard run with less than a minute left in the half, which turned out to be the final touchdown of the game.
“I’m proud of these kids. They fought — every game, we’ve been in till the late fourth quarter,” Orange head coach Jesse Lohr said. “Hats off to Coach Fischer and those guys, they’re a first class team. They played pretty well. We made some mistakes, they didn’t.”
After the break, both defenses took over, but Louisa played more aggressively and kept control of the game. With the Hornets in Louisa territory late in the game and desperately seeking a score to get back within striking distance, Lions cornerback Caleb Turner netted his second interception in as many weeks to effectively seal the game.
“Both defenses played better in the second half. Both made adjustments,” Fischer said. “It was a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy for us. I thought Coach Webb did a great job of scheming and adjusting people so we were able to keep them in front of us as best we could.”
Louisa hosts Charlottesville in its regular-season finale next Friday. Orange will round out its campaign with a trip to Fluvanna.
