Last week’s win over Monticello appears to be exactly what a Western Albemarle squad searching for an identity needed. The Warriors’ swagger — against William Monroe Friday night — was back for the straight week.
“We built so much confidence from that,” said Western’s Abbot Wallenborn. “After that win we came out here with a whole different mindset.”
Wallenborn rushed for 254 yards on 17 carries as the Warriors pulled away from William Monroe in a big way during the fourth quarter to grab a 31-7 victory over a Dragons’ squad that’s starting to sputter.
The senior quarterback followed up last week’s breakthrough performance against Monticello with the rushing onslaught and another 101 yards and three touchdowns through the air against Monroe. Wallenborn twice found Tanner Knight, who had a big time night for the Warriors, for touchdowns. Knight scored the opening touchdown for Western, hauling the ball in from 17 yards out on Western’s second drive off a crossing route, then scored again from seven yards out late in the second quarter. Knight also came up with a critical pass breakup in the endzone late in the third to help end a march by Monroe that put the Dragons in position to cut into Western’s lead.
“Tanner is a great athlete and we haven’t gotten him involved in the mix that much this year,” Wallenborn said. “Now that we have it’s a great option to go to.”
A pair of long runs by Wallenborn and Adam Diehl, who finished with 91 yards on 15 touches for the Warriors, set up Knight’s first touchdown catch. That became a recurring theme, especially in the fourth quarter when both players started ripping off runs of 10 or more yards regularly. Wallenborn’s last four runs went for 14, 34, 21 and 45 yards as William Monroe’s defense came apart at the seams and Western scored 19 points in the final frame.
William Monroe was in good shape until a near-touchdown by Zach Duprey was called back near the close of the third — from there the Dragons unraveled.
“We find out we’ve got an illegal formation, come back and that’s where we imploded,” said Monroe coach Mark Sanford. “I told our kids, I was just disappointed in the effort closing out the game. It seemed like everybody just dropped it several notches”
Some of that struggle had to do with a Western defense that’s improving every week. The Warriors are finally healing up at linebacker with Austin Ellis, who injured his foot, re-entering the lineup alongside Mitchell Parks, who’s shaken off a nagging back injury. Throw developing sophomore Tommy Mullins in the rotation and Western has a lot to handle up the middle.
“When Austin was hurt, Tommy stepped up big time,” Parks said. “Austin brings that fire though, so I love having both of them in there. Tommy is the more disciplined one but Austin is the playmaker who just comes in and rings your bell.”
Monroe struggled to get anything going through the air, but Doug Sizemore managed to pile up 129 yards on the ground and Devin Fredrick added another 52. Sizemore had the Dragons’ lone touchdown with a 13-yard spring off an option pitch from Mitchell Morris.
Christian Asher got involved in the passing game for Western with five catches for 60 yards.
Western is surging now, but the Warriors’ final two games will be difficult tests. They travel to take on an equally hot Orange squad next week, then host Goochland in the season finale after that. Monroe faces a tough set of games of its own, closing out the season on the road against Goochland and Monticello.
