Myles Ward just wanted to get to the sideline.
“I tried to get to the outside and somehow got there,” Ward said. “Once I got to the sideline I saw another hole open up and then another and another.”
All those holes and all that running ended with a 75-yard punt return that kickstarted a comeback by the Patriots in the final seven minutes to lift Albemarle past Fluvanna County 14-13, erasing a 13-0 advantage for the Flucos.
“We just played with heart — I told the guys in the locker room (at halftime) that we can’t go into our shell, we came too far and worked to hard,” said Albemarle quarterback DaQuandre Taylor. “I told them to just play with heart and that’s what we did.”
Taylor scored the game-winner with 4:01 to play, cashing in after Albemarle defensive end Jake Rombach recovered a fumble shortly after Ward scored.
“I saw it was a big hit and I was looking for the fumble and I just ended up grabbing it,” Rombach said.
Taylor rumbled in for the 14-13 lead and then the Albemarle defense closed the deal, forcing a punt, then another fumble on the first play after the Fluvanna defense made a fourth down stop. Albemarle then took a knee for its fourth-straight win.
The Patriots had to overcome losing leading rusher Mahki Washington to a knee injury in the first half, which put a heavier load than usual on Taylor, who rose to the occasion and finished with 94 yards on 18 carries.
“He’s playing hard and stepped up to the moment and ran like a man,” said Albemarle coach Brandon Isaiah. “The offensive line blocked like they’ve been blocking all year and we were able to finish it off.”
Taylor got a lift from Ward’s return, which only counted because sophomore Nolan Pitsenberger didn’t blow it with a unnecessary roughness penalty with the first block on the return opting instead to run interference. It was the kind of smart, unselfish play that Albemarle hasn’t always made this year, the kind of play that prevents a situation or penalty that wastes an incredible play like what Ward and the other blockers put together.
“He could’ve taken that guy’s head off but he had great football IQ at that moment, stepped in front of him and made a key block that set Myles free,” Taylor said.
Taylor’s effort and the rally sparked by Ward’s explosive return erased the Flucos 13-0 lead built with a late first half touchdown by Kobe Edmonds on a 17-yard run and Austin Craig on a 7-yard touchdown that followed a Prophett Harris interception. When Craig scored, Albemarle blocked the extra point. Even late in the third quarter that didn’t sit well with Fluvanna coach Michael Morris.
“I didn’t feel good because when we missed the extra point I said I think that was a big play,” Morris said. “I thought that was going to haunt us.”
Fluvanna’s defense was its usual physical, rugged self, holding the Albemarle passing game to just 21 yards and limiting the ground attack to just 213 yards. That’s the kind of performance that’s been enough for the Flucos this year, but Albemarle’s furious comeback burned it. The loss snapped a five-game win streak for the Flucos. They’ll face Western Albemarle in a game that’s critical for Region 3C playoff position next week. For a night though, Fluvanna found itself on the flip side of a situation they’ve run into all season long.
“Albemarle won like we’ve been winning — it wasn’t a pretty game, they capitalized on some mistakes we made,” Morris said. “They made the plays when they had to and we didn’t.”
Nate Smith finished with 53 yards and Prophett Harris finished with 44 yards to provide the bulk of the Fluvanna offense. Albemarle made life tough on the Flucos’ Wing-T most of the night, with John Barber and Eric Taylor flying around at middle linebacker. Donovan Berry also came up with a big sack for the Patriots that forced the punt that led to Ward’s race to the house.
While Fluvanna tussles with the Warriors, the Patriots will host Powhatan Friday night.
