Last season Western Albemarle stumbled into the playoffs with a loss to Louisa County in the season finale that ended a perfect run through the regular season.
There were no such problems against Fluvanna County Friday as the Warriors rolled 48-12 over the Flucos. With the win and a little help from a Lord Botetourt loss down in Roanoke, the Warriors secured the No. 2 spot in the 16-team 3A West tournament.
Kent Henry put together another multi-touchdown performance, rushing for three scores and throwing for two more on just 4-for-6 passing for 89 yards. Henry rushed for 169 yards en route to the three scores on just nine carries.
Both Justin Haws and Oliver Herndon also got in on the ground attack with a touchdown each. The Warriors finished with 274 yards on the ground as a team.
Steven Hearn led the Warriors’ receivers with 89 yards and two touchdown catches in what was he and Henry’s senior night.
Henry got the scoring started with a 39-yard touchdown that put him over 10,000 total yards for his career. Fluvanna answered that score with a Mark Grooms touchdown run and pulled within a point at 7-6, but the Warriors proceeded to reel off 25 unanswered points before the half to take a 42-6 lead at the break.
Fluvanna managed 243 yards rushing against the Warriors, including Grooms’ 108-yard night, but struggled to move the ball through the air with just 48 yards and a pair of interceptions. Along with two lost fumbles, those interceptions gave the Flucos four costly turnovers on the night.
Western (9-1) will host Cave Spring (5-5) in the opening round of the playoffs. The Warriors will have home field advantage until at least the state semifinals.
