Western Albemarle’s football team had its chances, but they couldn’t capitalize against Lafayette Saturday in the Group 3A semifinals. After finding themselves in a 27-point hole, a late rally by the Warriors came up well short as Lafayette won 33-14 to lock up a berth in the state final on a rainy day in Williamsburg.
“Credit to them, they’re very good up front, they have great skill kids and they play tremendous defense,” said Western coach Ed Redmond. “I thought we had some opportunities early and it just didn’t go our way.”
The Warriors struggled to move the ball offensively throughout the first three quarters, and while the defense created some stops, Lafayette still managed a trio of first half touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead. Region 3A East defensive player of the year Matt Hummel in particular terrorized the Western backfield and stymied drive after drive while coming off the edge.
“We think we can block and we think we can stop the run,” said Lafayette coach Andy Linn. “That’s what (Hummel) does, he’s a speed player. We didn’t use him any different than we used him all season.”
Lafayette managed to hold a previously productive Western ground game to just 30 yards on the ground on the afternoon.
Western fell behind 27-0 in the closing seconds of the third quarter when Lafayette’s Tyrek Graham hauled in a touchdown from Rams backup quarterback Cheyton Pine. Pine, who replaced starter Brandon McGinty when McGinty was injured in the third quarter.
But Western finally got going with 5:35 left when quarterback Sam Hearn hit Oliver Herndon on a screen pass and Herndon scampered in from 27 yards out. The 2-point conversion failed, but Western followed up with a perfectly executed onsides kick recovered by freshman Robert Sims. Hearn quickly made the most of it with a touchdown past to Henry Kreienbaum from 41 yards out and Hearn converted the 2-point conversion. Down 27-14, the Warriors with 5:01 to play, Western recovered a second onsides kick, also by Sims, and appeared to be in position to at least attempt a miracle comeback.
“I credit our special teams coordinator (Michael Redmond) with that scheme, he’s been working on it all year and we haven’t had an opportunity to use it,” Redmond said. “They executed the onsides kick scheme really well.”
Instead, Hearn, after shaking off a would-be sack attempt, heaved the ball downfield into the waiting arms of Brandon Villuneava-Pernell and the Rams’ defensive back had his second interception of the day. Lafayette running back John Douglas then promptly ripped off a 55-yard touchdown to put the game away.
“I just told them, just stay the course, look to the older players, look to us coaches and we’ll be just fine,” Linn said. “It worked, so that’s good.”
Douglas finished with 165 yards on 22 carries while Joey Kraegenbrink rushed for 70 yards including the opening touchdown largely on jet sweeps. Villenueva-Pernell chipped in 42 yards and with he and Kraegnbrink a threat on the edge, it seemed to open things up for Douglas between the tackles. McGinty threw for 110 yards and rushed for 41 before leaving with his injury.
The loss ended an incredible run by the Warriors, the deepest march in the program’s history, and the future is bright with a ton of juniors in key spots.
“It was a great ride, tremendous group of kids,” Redmond said. “Outstanding group of captains and seniors and they certainly got Western Albemarle football to another level. The foundation is there.”
Lafayette will face Magna Vista in the Group 3A Championship in Lynchburg next week.
