With the injuries that have piled up and the re-tooling Western Albemarle has had to do, it really does raise a question that demands a unique answer.
“Honestly it gets to the point where you wonder where our points are going to come from,” said Western Albemarle coach Ed Redmond. “But it’s that offensive line, they’re just performing at such a high level.”
The Warriors’ points came from that offensive line that powered Kaden Morrow to four rushing touchdowns, a strip and score by Jaden Steppe and a wild couple of scrambles from Joey Burch, the receiver-turned-quarterback who improvised and powered his way into the endzone twice in overtime including the decisive 2-point conversion in a 43-41 double overtime barnburner win over Orange County.
“I’m definitely getting a little bit better every week,” Burch said. “This was a lot of fun. I’m a pretty even keel guy so I never get too high or too low but it’s exciting.”
Morrow finished with 161 yards on the ground including the touchdown in overtime for the Warriors that set up Burch’s two-point run.
With the win, the Warriors earned a share of the Jefferson District crown in a three-way tie with Albemarle and Louisa County. They also earned a possible rematch with the Hornets in Crozet in the first round of the Region 4D playoffs next week as both squads advance to the postseason. The match indicates Orange would either go to G.W. Danville or Crozet while Western could end up hosting the Hornets or Halifax.
“All the players and teammates who’ve put time into this program throughout the years, it just means so much to come out here and win a district championship,” said Western offensive lineman and linebacker Ross Bassett.
Orange’s Christian Simpson scored first in overtime, part of his 97-yard night, and Orange kicked the PAT. The Hornets forced Western to fourth down and collapsed on Burch who was trying to roll right, but he reversed field and headed to the front pylon, reaching out for the score. In the second overtime, Western went for two after Morrow scored and again Burch found his way in. The Hornets answered with Paul Poirier hitting Will Lewis for a twisting reception. But on the two-point, the ball sailed high and out of bounds, setting off a celebration by Western.
The Hornets laid it all on the line in this one, with Poirier scrapping and clawing to keep the Hornets in it. The Hornets’ star finished with 176 yards and two touchdowns on 15-for-21 passing and another 76 yards on the ground and a pick on defense.
“Stud, he’s a stud,” Redmond said. “He’s a good one. A lot of respect for them and their program but he brings a whole dimension, he’s so dynamic and he’s a tough and physical kid. He’s on the field the whole game.”
It was a Herculean effort on senior night and what became his final game at Porterfield Park, a fitting performance for the Hornets’ star that was only missing a win to be a storybook finish.
“Paul is deserving of whatever accolades he gets, he’s a first class guy,” said Orange coach Jesse Lohr. “He’s done everything he can to give himself a chance to play at the next level and along the way for us he’s just succeeding and being that dude. He leads everything for us, he leads us in tackles, interceptions, he’s our offense and we had a lot of other guys step up tonight but Paul is just answering the bell.”
Orange held a 21-14 lead at the break after a wild first half that Poirier finished with a touchdown toss to Sheldon Robinson where Robinson high-pointed it and came down with it. Robinson and Poirier both had picks in that first half too as Orange made it clear they were ready to meet the challenge.
Western responded with a solid drive to open the second half capped by a 31-yard sprint by Morrow for his third touchdown of the game. Then just a few minutes later, Steppe came up with a wild play where Robinson caught the ball near the Orange sideline before Steppe ripped it away and sprinted down the sideline. The Hornets contended that there should’ve been a penalty for 12 men on the field on the play, but Steppe’s strip and score stood, giving Western, briefly, a 28-21 lead.
It was brief because Poirier and Christian Simpson immediately went to work. Simpson started the ensuing drive with a 40-yard sprint and after Poirier converted a third and one, Simpson raced in from 10 yards out to tie the game back up at 28-28.
“That’s one thing I was trying to instill, that fight that attitude and it showed tonight,” Lohr said. “These kids played well enough to win that game today, Western just kept answering, kept finding ways to make plays themselves.”
Both teams had chances to score in the fourth but couldn’t punch it in. The Hornets stuffed Western near midfield after an 11-play drive that started at the 30. Then Orange’s drive got a major boost from a single play with 30 yards of penalties, a facemask and a late hit, but the Hornets couldn’t punch that one either, turning the ball over on downs at the Warriors’ one. Western went on the march once more, but Orange held up and stopped the drive on the fringe of the redzone and after the Hornets couldn’t move it in the final 22 seconds, the game went to overtime, setting the stage for heroics on both sides of the ball.
With both teams in the playoff mix, they’re likely not done with each other yet, with projections showing that Western is likely to host Orange County in the Region 4D quarterfinals next week. The VHSL will formalize playoff matchups Sunday after games wrap up Saturday.
For now, Western can enjoy an impressive win to cap a wild regular season.
“We were able to finish, we’ve had a lot of adversity throughout the year and a credit to our guys and our coaching staff who gets these kids ready to play every week,” Redmond said. “We talked this week about celebrating and not letting the times go by where you miss a celebration and certainly tonight is about them celebrating and enjoying this win.”
