Last week Western Albemarle made a statement.
This week the Warriors survived.
Western fought off a scrappy Fort Defiance squad to pull out a 35-31 victory and stay unbeaten on the year a week after shutting out Liberty-Bealeton. The win avenged a narrow 2011 loss at the hands of the Indians.
Western trailed 31-28 late in the third quarter and appeared in even more dire straits when Fort recovered a fumble by Western. But the Warriors came up with a stop on fourth down, scored on the ensuing drive when Kent Henry connected with Steven Hearn for a 13-yard touchdown. From there, Western held on, withstanding two Fort Defiance possessions.
The Warriors got a big-time offensive performance from Henry again, as he piled up nearly 500 total yards on offense. Henry threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns, though he also tossed a pair of interceptions. He ripped off 124 yards on the ground on just 16 attempts.
He found Daniel Kuzjak nine times for an incredible 247 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yarder on the first offensive play.
Kuzjak and Hearn each had interceptions on defense, with Hearn’s helping seal the win in the fourth quarter.
Western Albemarle (3-0) takes on another out-of-district squad from the valley next week when the Warriors head to Spotswood.
