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Muddy and Moving On: Louisa advances to region semifinals with win over Huguenot

Photo by Brian Mellott

If a game can be described as sloppy and plodding but still be positive, that would have to apply to Louisa’s 36-3 win over Huguenot in Friday’s Region 4B Quarterfinal. On a chilly night with a wet field scarred by divots even before kickoff, conditions obviously favored the ground game, and the Lions churned out 338 yards compared to just 19 for the visiting Falcons.

 

“It’s playoff football in November: it’s cold, it’s wet, it’s muddy,” said Louisa coach Will Patrick. “The key was stopping the run and make a team throw. Our defense gave up one big play all night.”

 

With the Jungle’s resilient grass surface clearly battered from last Saturday’s showdown with Fluvanna, it was sophomore Kalup Shelton who found a bit more success inside the tackles for Louisa. He led all rushers with 115 yards on just 13 carries, while Jarett Hunter managed 105 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.

 

“Kalup’s a heck of a football player and he runs hard,” said Patrick. “Jarett’s our leader back there. When you put both of them back there, you’ve got a two-headed monster, and I kind of like that.”

 

Huguenot’s limited offensive success came through the air, as sophomore quarterback Keshawn Arthur connected with junior Kevin Gayles for a 60-yard catch-and-run completion midway through the first quarter to setup a 25-yard field goal from Jason Chavez. Arthur finished 8-of-22 for 126 yards, but the Louisa secondary also made three interceptions.

 

“We had a guy fall down on that pass completion, but after that we played pretty darn good,” said Patrick. “We didn’t really change much coverages-wise, we just played better. I really thought our secondary stepped up there and made some good plays, and we had a few interceptions.”

 

Louisa sophomore Robert Morgan set off some early fireworks with his return of the game’s opening kickoff. After slipping as he ran to catch the kick, he scooped the ball at his own 10, weaved through traffic in the middle, and then raced all the way for a touchdown.

 

“Robbie’s return was big time; we haven’t done that in a long time here,” said Patrick. “That really set the tone.”

 

After Huguenot made it 7-3, Louisa answered with an 8-play, 73 yard drive. Hunter and Shelton picked up 29 and 31 yards, respectively, before Gabe Cuozzo got the call on a jet sweep left.

 

“It was open at first, and then I saw a dude [on the edge] so I cut back and got in the endzone,” said Cuozzo.

 

Louisa drove deep into Falcon territory on its next possession, but Hunter was stopped at the 3 on fourth and goal to keep the score 14-3. However, the Lions’ defense would help the cause, as Brandon Smith and several linemen converged on Arthur before he could escape the endzone after recovering a low snap on third-and-long. After the free kick, Louisa needed just three plays to cover 44 yards. Quarterback Rob Allinder connected deep with Mark Carter in the back of the endzone for a 25-yard score, and three minutes after Huguenot’s goal line stand, it was 23-3.

 

“When Rob gets hot, he can throw it,” said Patrick of his senior quarterback, who completed 5-of-8 passes for 47 yards on the night. “Being able to spread the ball around and keep people honest, keep them from loading the box, that’s been our goal all season.”

 

A special teams miscue gave Huguenot a shot in Lions’ territory when a bouncing punt hit a Louisa blocker’s foot. But on third-and-13, Isaiah Nichols intercepted Arthur’s deep pass at the 1 yardline. Louisa’s offense then executed a game-sealing drive, covering 99 yards in six plays. Fullback Adrian Williams broke out for a 49-yard gain, and Shelton followed with a 31-yard pickup. Cuozzo then got his second carry, this time on a counter out of the backfield.

 

“I just turned it up and made one man miss,” said Cuozzo, as he took it nine yards for his second touchdown.

 

Louisa led 29-3 at the break. A sloppy third quarter yielded no points, as Hunter intercepted Arthur to halt a Huguenot drive between a bevy of punts. In the fourth quarter, Hunter and Shelton led an eight play, 85-yard drive, capped by Hunter’s one-yard keeper.

 

Louisa (11-0) now turns its focus to a long-anticipated showdown with fellow 4B undefeated power Eastern View (11-0), which dispatched Midlothian 40-3 on Friday night. The Cyclones will likely need to make to sure to bring the right cleats. If Friday was any indication and with rain still in the forecast this week, trying to knock off Louisa may necessitate proving you can handle the elements.

 

“This has been a game a lot of people have been waiting for, and we’re excited about it,” said Patrick. “We’ve got to play great defense because they’ve got some really good offensive players. Hopefully we come out and play good football.”

 

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