Can a Jefferson District title run really come as a surprise with a program that’s won the past six in-a-row? For Louisa County, who made it seven-straight district championships with Friday night’s 28-13 victory over Albemarle in the Jungle, that was certainly the mindset.
“This year’s a big one,” said Louisa County coach Will Patrick. “We lost 20 starters out of 22. We had two phenom freshmen transfer, lost a great quarterback in Landon (Wilson), a lot of o-linemen, and a lot of good skill kids. I don’t know if everybody had us counted in this year, but it just goes to show the stability of [our program], the processes we use day in and day out, year-round. If you work hard, you see what comes to fruition when everyone buys in.”
It was a far cry from last year’s showdown in the Jungle, where the Lions hung a program-record 69 points in a 35-point win over the Patriots. For a second week, Albemarle was without senior quarterback Amaje Parker, instead turning to sophomore Brayden Strother in the first half and senior receiver Noah Grevious in the second. Both players put touchdowns on the board, but three second-half turnovers by the Patriots allowed Louisa to maintain a comfortable lead for most of the night.
“[AHS] not having Parker obviously was a big game-changer,” Patrick said. “He’s one of the most elusive kids in the area, if not the state. We were trying to change our defensive game plan, but tackling, staying in the gap, and making sure no one got behind us: those are the big keys facing an explosive team like Albemarle.”
To its credit, Albemarle’s defense was more successful than most against Louisa’s ground attack, allowing only 179 yards in the game. The Lions drove into the redzone on their first series of each half, but both times had to settle for field goals. Albemarle even held a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter after freshman Benjamin Morgan broke a 65-yard run down to the 2-yardline, setting up Strother to score on a keeper. But then Louisa put together one of its trademark grinding possessions in response. On the sixteenth play, freshman quarterback Jahiem Jackson finally plowed in from one yard out on fourth-and-goal.
“I think that was probably the most important drive of the game,” said Patrick of the 63-yard drive that stretched 10-and-a-half minutes. “We got down to the redzone, had to kick a field goal. They hit us on a big play and take the lead. We get the ball back and basically control the clock in the [rest of] the first half. That’s what you’ve got to do against teams like Albemarle. They’ve got some very explosive athletes and they can hurt you on one play. Controlling the clock was the big key in that first half.”
An errant third-down shotgun snap foiled Albemarle’s next series near midfield. Louisa got it back and switched into two-minute mode to expand the lead before the break. Jackson converted a fourth-and-2 with a five-yard keeper. Two plays later, he dropped a perfect pass in to senior Isaiah Haywood along the left sideline, who made the catch and raced in for a 32-yard score to open a 17-7 lead.
“Scoring before the half, that wheel route to Haywood, was a big play,” said Patrick. “The grinding drive and then the quick drive, being able to have both in your arsenal I think is key.”
Louisa received the third-quarter kickoff and took half of the period driving down to the 1, but the Patriots’ defensive front and a delay-of-game flag forced a second field goal by junior kicker George Albertson.
“Albertson’s a great kid,” said Patrick. “A little bit injured, didn’t know if he was going to go but sucked it up and had two big field goals, and two touchbacks. He’s a great kicker. His future is very bright.”
With the score 20-7, Albemarle was still very much in the contest, but its next two series ended with interceptions. Senior Lawton Rowan came up with the first on a pass that was deflected multiple times. Two plays later, Louisa struck again though the air with a 61-yard pass from Jackson to tight end Isaiah Holland.
“I got out, saw green grass, caught the ball and took right off,” said Holland. “My boy Jahiem dropped a dot.”
With the Lions now up 28-7, Holland cemented his status as MVP of the quarter by pulling down the next interception in the secondary.
“We were savage out there,” Holland said of the defensive mentality. “Ball in the air, that’s our ball, that’s what Coach Hollins has been telling us all week.”
Grevious got a bit of revenge by picking off Holland on a gadget play on the first snap of the fourth quarter. The Patriots were on the verge of a much-needed response score when Grevious hit sophomore Derrius Jones for a 30-yard gain inside the 5 yardline, but the Lions’ secondary forced a fumble on the tackle and recovered in the endzone for a touchback. Louisa then drained eight and a half minutes off the clock.
Grievous rounded out the scoring with a 52-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Isaiah Harris in the final minute. Grievous finished 5-of-9 through the air for 122 yards. Albemarle (4-5, 4-2) will try to wrap its season with a rivalry-game win as its hosts Western (1-8, 1-5) next Friday.
For Louisa (8-1, 6-0), Jackson completed 8-of-10 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Seaberry led the ground attack with 97 yards on 25 carries.
“This is one of the best teams I’ve been around in my life, and I’ve been around football for 32 years,” said Patrick. “Just hats off to my coaching staff and young men who are giving me all they’ve got every Friday.”
Now playing in VHSL’s Class 5 Region C, the Lions next look to secure a home playoff game with one more win as they close the regular season at Goochland (3-6, 3-3).
“8-1, opportunity to go 9-1, nobody believed that Louisa would be here right now, but we are,” said Holland.
