It wasn’t easy by any means, but behind a big third quarter, Western Albemarle held off Waynesboro for a 33-22 victory in the Battle for Afton Mountain, moving the Warriors to 2-0 on the year.
Western took the lead for the first time when Osiris Crutchfield blocked his second punt in as many weeks and it bounced into the endzone for a safety. That put the Warriors up 16-14 going into the half. In the second half, Steven Kuzjak powered in from a yard out to extend the Warriors’ lead to 22-14.
But then Chris Baker, who was Western’s nemesis just a year ago, evened the game again with a 65-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.
Western answered though when Sam Hearn hit Henry Kreienbaum for a 23-yard touchdown and a 28-22 lead. A few seconds after a Matt Mullin fumble recovery in the red zone, Western’s Holland Corbett connected on a field goal with 47 seconds left in the third to complete a 17-point third quarter spurt.
From there the Warriors’ defense held serve, shutting out Waynesboro in the fourth. Western limited Baker to just 82 yards of total offense a year after he shredded the Warriors’ unit. A pair of Crutchfield sacks and nine total tackles for the junior played a big role in the effort as did six total tackles by Michael Mullin and five from Kuzjak.
Oliver Herndon paced the Warriors’ offense with 135 yards and a first half touchdown on nine touches and Sam Hearn was productive behind center with 126 yards and two touchdowns through the air and another 47 yards on 11 carries on the ground.
Hearn’s favorite target was Kreienbaum, who had 121 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.
Western will try and run its record to 3-0 against Fort Defiance on the road next week.
