Williams Carries Liberty Past Louisa 14-6
BEALETON, VA - The playoffs started for Liberty and Louisa in week 11 as both teams faced must win situations to get into the second season. Both teams took care of business last Friday as Liberty destroyed Fauquier 50-20 and Louisa shut out Fluvanna 35-0 to earn a birth in the Region II Division 4 AA quarterfinals.
Liberty made a nice run in 2008 as they made it all the way to the state semi-finals before losing to Dinwiddie. Louisa on the other hand had not been in the playoffs since 2006 when they lost to Amherst in the state championship game 34-27.
Both teams had put up big offensive numbers during the regular season leading most to think that this game would be a high scoring affair but that was not the case as defense took center stage in a hard fought battle.
Both teams traded short stalling drives the entire first half as neither team could move the ball effectively. After the first quarter Liberty and Louisa had 10 and 11 yards of total offense respectively. At this point in the game it became clear that the first team to make a mistake would find themselves in a hole.
Liberty made the first miscue as Eric Whitmer fielded a low snap and had his punt blocked by Rayshawn Jackson who subsequently fielded the loose ball and took it back for a 25-yard touchdown with 3:27 to go in the first half.
Liberty's Cortez Carter answered back on the ensuing drive with a 38-yard run putting the Eagles in prime position to get on the scoreboard before halftime. On the next play QB Lou Chiccehitto put the ball on the turf and the fumble was recovered by Louisa's Anthony Hunter.
On the opening play of the second half Louisa QB Dillon Hollins dialed up a quick pitch that hit the turf as the Lion back lost his footing. The ball wound up in the end zone and was recovered by Carter for a touchdown. Darwin Guevara added the extra point and Liberty found themselves up 7-6.
Liberty began to find some success on the ground in the second half as the duo of Bryon Williams and Wayne Fleming started to find the running lanes. Williams used his quickness to cut back against the flow of pursuit to the tune of 128 yards on 16 carries. Fleming carried the ball 23 times for 74 yards and kept drives alive late in the game with some impressive running.
Williams biggest touch came mid way through the fourth quarter when the Senior hit a seam off the left side of the offensive line and out raced Louisa's defenders to the end zone for a 51-yard score.
Louisa (7-4, 5-2) came into the game averaging almost 236 yards rushing per game but had no success on the ground as the Lions ran the ball 25 times for negative 28 yards. Liberty's defense played extremely well and did a good job of limiting Andre Mealy and Anthony Hunter who combined for over 1000 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns in the regular season.
Liberty (8-3, 3-0) will travel to Broad Run next Friday night to face off with the defending champs in the region II semi-finals. Kickoff is set for 7:30. The winner of that game will face the winner of the Sherando vs Loudoun County/James Wood game the following week.
