It took Orange County a while to finish the job, but the Hornets knocked used a productive run game and a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to put away Goochland with a 33-15 win Friday night.
Bubba Wells and Christian Simpson each rushed for more than 100 yards against the Bulldogs, with Wells gaining 168 yards on touches while Simpson went for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Orange rolled up 542 yards of total offense but couldn’t put Goochland away early.
In the fourth though, Jeremiah Wharton threw a touchdown to Bryant Chiles from 13 yards out and a few minutes later Wharton scored from nine yards out to ice the game with 6:08 left to play. Wharton also hit Brody Foran for a touchdown in the second quarter and threw for 169 yards on 11-for-14 passing.
Goochland continued to lean heavily on Jameson Pryor, who picked up 88 yards on 23 touches and Blayke Flaherty threw for 130 yards but the Bulldogs struggled to punch the ball into the endzone after a solid first half. Flaherty found Mason Gregory for the first touchdown and rushed for the other one to put Goochland up 15-12 with 5:20 left in the first half.
Orange responded with Simpson’s second touchdown of the game late in the first half to take a lead going into the locker room.
The win inches the Hornets closer to locking in a playoff spot in Region 4D with just a week to go and a road clash with Western Albemarle next week to wrap the regular season. Goochland is on the fringe of a playoff spot in Region 3B as the Bulldogs head into The Jungle next week to take on Louisa County.
