By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
POWHATAN – Powhatan High’s football team has adopted a simple, but effective approach straight out of the UPS marketing handbook — they know exactly what Brown can do.
Senior running back Ray Brown did a little bit of everything to get the Indians rolling on Friday night. The 5-foot-10, 177-pounder finished with four touchdowns, including a 98-yard kickoff return, and had an interception as Powhatan rolled past Western Albemarle 42-7 in its Jefferson District opener.
“That’s it, that’s our game right now — we run it. That’s what we do,” Powhatan veteran coach Jim Woodson said. “We like to have a great passing game — we’re going to need it down the road I’m sure, but I just said, the hell with it. We’re going do what we do best and win the ballgame. And we’ve got to give it to our best kid.”
Brown didn’t waste time getting down to business, as it took the Indians just three plays to score on their opening drive. After runs of five and 52 yards, Brown punched it in from the two yard-line to give his team the early lead.
Powhatan (4-2, 1-0 JD) added another score late in the first quarter, as Thomas Mitchel hooked up with Alex Higuchi for a 14-yard pass play.
The visitors cut into the deficit after Austin Ellis blocked a punt to set up a touchdown pass from Kent Henry to Ellis, who made a nifty one-handed grab to get Western on the board.
Henry threw for 143 yards and connected with five different receivers on the night. All of his production came in the first half, as Devin Long took over signal-calling duties in the third quarter.
Any momentum the Warriors gained was crushed as Brown took the kickoff and ran it an electrifying 98 yards for a touchdown. The fleet-footed senior added another score before halftime as Powhatan extended its lead to 28-7.
“I saw the line blocking for me,” Brown said. “I saw the open field, daylight, and I just ran hard.”
Brown and Higuchi tacked on two more scores in the third quarter as Powhatan cruised to its third straight win. Brown finished with 152 rushing yards on 15 carries and the Powhatan running backs were responsible for all but 39 yards of the team’s offense.
The Indians’ defense was just as impressive, coming up with a pair of interceptions and keeping the Warriors’ quarterbacks in check. Powhatan has held its opponents to single digits in each of its last three games.
The Jefferson District newcomers seem to fit right into their new home.
“There’s some great football teams in [the Jefferson District],” Woodson said. “We’ve played Monticello and Louisa in the past in non-district games, so we’re familiar with the type of ball they play.”
Powhatan visits Fluvanna County Friday night, while Western Albemarle (2-4, 0-2) plays Charlottesville Thursday at Monticello’s stadium.
