It seems crazy, but it just happened this way, almost inexplicably — the top seeded team in the second round of the Division 2A East playoffs never led against eighth seeded Goochland. Las Vegas odds makers wouldn’t take a bet like that.
Wilson Memorial had its moments in the second quarter where it looked like was ready to pounce out in front, but after a fake punt was snuffed out by the Bulldogs in the third quarter and quickly turned into a 15-yard Jordan Jefferson touchdown run, the game was never the same. Goochland’s defense shutout the Hornets in the second half, and the offense, from start to finish, thrived on big plays to set the table for a 32-14 upset victory on the road.
“It was an absolute war out it there, it was so physical,” said Bulldogs coach Joe Fowler. “We’re just pleased that we’re getting better and better each week. We’re so young and have been decimated by injuries — to play this well this late in the season I think is a surprise to a lot of people.”
From the opening drive, the Hornets were forced to play catch up. The Bulldogs took the first possession deep into Wilson territory and went up 7-0 on a 25-yard TD run from Jefferson — the first of many huge plays the junior would make on the day. The Hornets marched into scoring position on their ensuing drive but saw that come to a halt on an interception by Jefferson.
“Getting that confidence up early, that was a big boost and we needed that,” Jefferson said.
Again the Bulldogs worked their way down field with Jefferson, Connor Saunders, Jaylen Allen and David Dyer all contributing on the ground. From 11 yards out Dyer plowed his way into the endzone and the Bulldogs made it 13-0 (as they missed their first PAT of the season) with 11:19 left in the second.
From there, things got complicated. Using Juh-Kwquay McCauley and Savant Swift, the Hornets put together a four minute drive to set up a quarterback keeper from one yard out by Mack Cullen. Goochland answered with a 69 yard TD pass from Jefferson to Saunders on a nice wheel route.
“We practiced that all week because we knew they were going to play two high (in the secondary),” Jefferson said. “That was just a play we really practiced on.”
A failed 2-point convert made it 19-6. Wilson responded again, this time with a 21-yard touchdown run from Swift to cut the Bulldogs lead to five going into the break.
“We told our kids that they were going to have to face some adversity and they played well,” said Wilson coach Jeremiah Major. “We came out in the second half and just needed to have a good drive and we just didn’t.”
The big momentum shift in the game occurred right out the gate in the third. With the Hornets getting the ball after the break, the Bulldogs defense managed to force a 4th and 4 situation at the Wilson 31 yard line and set up what looked like the first punt of the game for either side. The Hornets improvised the fake on a call made at the line of scrimmage and the Bulldogs just happened to be ready for it.
“It happens,” Major said. “They’re teenagers and sometimes things like that happen, but I take responsibility for that.”
Jefferson made Wilson pay dearly for it moments later. The junior quarterback broke off a 15-yard TD where he dove at the pylon successfully to make it a two possession game at 25-14. The Hornets never recovered after that. The next Wilson drive finally resulted in the games first punt. That move was reciprocated with Goochland sending back its first punt. McCauley broke off a huge run for Wilson soon after, and were it not for a touchdown saving tackle from Jefferson, things might have been more interesting. The stop came outside of field goal range and the Bulldogs defense once again bent, but didn’t break as it came up with a turnover on downs. With 47 seconds to go in the third, Saunders went off for a 36-yard touchdown run and simply put the game out of reach.
“When you’re a ‘four yards and cloud of dust offense’ the last thing you want to do is get behind the chains,” Fowler said of the position his defense put Wilson in during the second half. “We’re really happy with the way the defense came out and played in the second half, just came after them.
Wilson put together a six minute drive and got within the Bulldogs 12 yard line, but the drive eventually stalled. Behind Dyer and Allen, Goochland did the rest of the damage on the clock. The Hornets recovered a fumble late in the game, but with so little time remaining, there was nothing to be done with it.
“We played tough on defense and it allowed our offense to just do what we do and that’s get the ball to the endzone,” Saunders said. “This win gives us a lot of momentum and hopefully another great week of practice.”
The win marked the third straight time Goochland ended Wilson’s season and the second time in a row in Fishersville. So once again, Thanksgiving means practice for Goochland, a ritual Fowler warns his athlete’s parents about.
“We tell them, don’t make plans for Thanskgiving out of town because we plan to still be playing then,” Fowler said.
The two previous meetings with the Hornets came in the state semifinals. The Bulldogs (10-2) advance to face Riverheads (11-1) in the next round. The Gladiators lone loss came at the hands of Wilson back in week seven, 35-24. Goochland has won six straight this year and seven straight playoff games. It’s also won 11 of its last 12 playoff games dating back to the 2011 season with the lone loss coming in the 2011 state final at the hands of Gretna.
