Stories

Sticking with it: Black Knights rally against Warriors, overcome late surge

Photo: Ryan Yemen

 

Western Albemarle delivered a solid one-two punch to open up the game and grab Charlottesville’s attention. That attention garnered a pretty serious response.

 

Midway through the second quarter, it was looking like a classic trap game between a pair of rivals. However, behind an explosive finish to the second quarter and a quick start to the third, the Black Knights answered to take a two possession lead and take control. While the Warriors made things interesting late in the fourth quarter, a kickoff return to the house by Mitchell Temple wound up finishing off the game with Charlottesville coming out on top with a 35-26 victory.

 

“We stuck with it and the kids were resilient,” said Charlottesville coach Eric Sherry. “We’ve got some weapons offensively and an improved offensive line. We were able to battle back from that start and it was still a little too close for comfort in the end, but it’s a win. But you also have to credit Western because those kids played hard and I think they’re coached very well.”

 

With Derek Domecq on the sidelines, it was Robert Sims stepping up and taking the reins at quarterback. Western drew first blood in the contest when Sims and Jack Lesemann connected for a 20-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. With 6:02 to play in the second, Sims scrambled and found Wyatt Hull in the back left corner of the endzone for a 26-yard TD strike and it was 14-0 for the visitors.

 

“Robert played hard, great effort from him,” said Western coach Ed Redmond. “Unfortunately though we were inconsistent and just couldn’t put everything together.”

 

In the next nine minutes though, Charlottesville truly came to life as it reeled off 28 unanswered points. The comeback began with a 30-yard run from Sabias Folley to set up a 1-yard plunge from Tre Durrett followed up by a 2-point convert from Joe Von Storch to make it a 14-8 game. Just two minutes later, the Black Knights took the lead with Rakeem Davis breaking off a 68-yard run off the edge to the endzone to make it 15-14.

 

“When we were down two touchdowns it was like ‘Come on guys,’ because on Monday we came out to practice ready and we knew what we had to do when we came out on this field tonight,” Davis said. “We just had to grind deep, find holes and play Black Knight football. When we do that we’re fine”

 

A Western fumble gave Charlottesville an opportunity to put together a 2-minute drill and the Black Knights took advantage, with Sam Neale finding Durrett who made a 33-yard touchdown catch on a diving one-handed play with 1:36 until the break. In just over five minutes, Charlottesville went from down two scores to up 21-14.

 

“Really it was just a mentality thing,” said Black Knights lineman Larry Henderson. “We knew we were down but just had to focus up and fight hard.”

 

With their opening possession of the third, the Black Knights would take firm control with Davis busting loose for his second touchdown of the game, this one from 43 yards out to make it 28-14.

 

Things were quiet from there but a Charlottesville fumble midway through the fourth gave Western some hope. The Warriors marched down field and got an 8-yard touchdown run from Darren Klein with 5:36 to go and make it a one possession game at 28-20.

 

Just as the Black Knights answered in the second, they answered in the fourth and quickly with Temple housing the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to make it 35-20 game with 5:19 to go.

 

“Sometimes in the Jefferson it’s just four of five games in a row that can be brutal but the kids this year seem to rise to the top,” Sherry said. “They understand what they have to do each week.”

 

Western got one last strike with Sims hitting Hull for an 80-yard touchdown, but the Warriors were unable to convert on the 2-point convert. With the game at 35-26 and just 48 seconds left on the clock, Western attempted an onside kick but was unable to come up with the ball, allowing Charlottesville was able to knee the ball twice and run out the clock.

 

“We aren’t quitters but we’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do,” Redmond said. “It’s been a season of adversity but I know we’ll continue to play hard.”

 

For Charlottesville, Davis led the way offensively with seven carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Folley had 11 touches for 110 yards. Neale added seven attempts for 66 yards. Durrett finished with 11 carries for 49 yards and one catch for 33 yards.

 

For Western, Sims went 7-for-14 passing with 158 yards and three touchdowns, along with nine carries for 26 yards. Klein had 13 carries for 72 yards. Hull had two catches for 106, both of which went for touchdowns. Jack Weyher had four catches for 58 yards.

 

Charlottesville (6-2) next travels to Louisa County (8-0) while Western Albemarle (1-7) hosts Fluvanna County (2-6).

Comments

comments