Western Albemarle needed to bounce back after losing to Louisa County last week, and while what happened Friday night in Palmyra probably wasn’t exactly what the Warriors had in mind, Western managed to survive, beating Fluvanna County 8-0 in overtime.
Joey Burch, subbing in for an injured Nathan Simon at quarterback, provided the difference making score in the first overtime, rushing in from five yards out. Burch then upped the ante on the Flucos as the holder on the extra point attempt when he scooped up a bad snap, scurried to his right and somehow found Aiden Woodson-Carver in the endzone for a two-point conversion and the 8-0 lead.
The Warriors’ defense then made it stand up with Carson Tujague picking off a pass in the endzone on the final play of the game.
Neither team found the endzone in regulation, though both moved the ball on the ground pretty effectively, with Western averaging 6.0 yards per rush and the Flucos picking up 4.3 yards per attempt. Western had a couple of touchdowns called back on penalties and each team had three turnovers and punted three times.
Kaden Morrow led the Warriors in rushing with 18 carries for 109 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per touch. Burch finished with 46 yards on the ground and Kyle Keyton chipped in another 43 yards.
Fluvanna moved the ball on the ground by committee, with Owen Leydig’s 47 yards leading the way, Chase Paschall picking up 35 yards and Trace Harris and Kobe Edmonds each picking up 27 yards. Leydig picked off two passes for the Flucos. Jacob Seymore had three catches for 49 yards.
Keyton also had Western’s lone catch, a 21-yard gain and came up with four tackles for a loss, part of a six-tackle night that led the Western defense.
Western, now 7-1, takes on Monticello at home next week while the Flucos travel to take on Charlottesville.
