It’s not how Albemarle wanted to enter the postseason at all. But the Patriots are still there, and that’s a huge step.
Orange County’s speed and wide open, nothing-to-lose approach netted the Hornets their second victory of the year Friday, as Orange beat the playoff-bound Patriots 23-20, playing spoiler and forcing the Patriots to stumble into the playoffs.
Orange built a 23-6 lead before halftime and then held on from there despite Albemarle’s defense locking the Hornets down in the second half and holding them scoreless. The Patriots’ offense couldn’t muster enough points though, and the squad’s final touchdown that made it a one-score game came with just four seconds remaining, which didn’t leave them with nearly enough time to complete the comeback.
Isaiah Ferguson’s 60-yard touchdown sprint just seconds into the game staked the Hornets to a 7-0 lead right of the gate, and it kept coming in the first half for the Hornets. Mikael Wallace answered an Albemarle touchdown by Dominique Talley with an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Ferguson then tacked on another score as part of his 114-yard outing on just 12 carries.
Albemarle took to the air after the break, with D.G. Archer throwing for 332 yards on 21-for-46 passing for the game. Three interceptions proved costly to the Patriots’ comeback efforts though as Orange just kept holding on.
Matt Crist, returning from a collarbone fracture earlier this year, finished with two touchdowns while fellow wideouts Kevin Bernardino and Richard Deloria each went over 100 yards on six catches a piece.
The Patriots appear set to face Falls Church on the road in the first round of the 5A North playoffs, the first trip to the playoffs since 2003 for Albemarle. Orange’s season ends with the victory over Albemarle.
