Single Wing Lions NIP CYCLONES

August 30, 2008 12:17 am

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Louisa High School football coach Mark Fischer told anyone willing to listen that Eastern View isn't going to be a typical first-year football program.

Last night, he was proven correct.

The Lions held off Culpeper County's newest high school for a hard-fought 27-20 victory, but not before the Cyclones showed they may be a force to be reckoned with this season.

"I've been saying it all along: that's a ball club," Fischer said. "That ain't no start-up team, man. They are for real. We fought hard and we made a lot of mistakes and missed a ton of opportunities, but at the end, we got the breaks we needed and came through."

Louisa needed to recover an onside kick with 1:24 remaining to preserve the victory, and even that was an iffy proposition.

The ball squirted away from one Louisa player before senior running back Kendell Davidson secured it, leaving Fischer a nervous wreck.

"I can't do this much longer. I need another heart," Fischer said. "That's the first game and we faced every kind of situation we can face in a ball game."

Louisa's first touchdown came on a 57-yard pass from quarterback Dillon Hollins to 6-foot-4 tight end Kerry Wynn, who leaped over an Eastern View defensive back and outraced the Cyclones defense to the end zone.

Louisa's lead increased to 13-0 in the second quarter after running back Anthony Hunter scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.

But Eastern View responded with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with the first touchdown in school history.

Quarterback Cody Whitlock (200 yards, one touchdown) found wide receiver DeShawn Robinson (seven catches, 81 yards) for the 15-yard scoring strike on a fourth-and-goal play, pulling the Cyclones within 13-7 with 2:07 remaining.

However, that was too much time for the Lions. They crisply moved down the field and Hollins--a first-year starting quarterback-completed the 57-yard march with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davidson for a 19-7 lead seven seconds before halftime.

"That was a big drive for them," Eastern View head coach Greg Hatfield said. "We had a couple of chances to make some plays and we didn't make them, but that was a big-time drive on their part."

The Cyclones refused to go away quietly.

They opened the third quarter with a 70-yard march of their own that culminated with Whitlock's 2-yard touchdown run to close his team within 19-14 with 9:08 remaining.

The score stayed that way until Louisa's Hunter scored on a 5-yard run to make it 27-14 with 5:31 left in the game. The touchdown was set up by a 41-yard pass from Hollins to wide receiver Demetrius Johnson.

It was yet another big play in a sterling effort from Hollins, who finished the game 8-of-11 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

"The first game starting at quarterback to throw two touchdowns, that's unbelievable," Hollins said. "That's every kid's dream to start at quarterback on varsity."

Following a Louisa botched punt, Eastern View standout senior running back Stevie Strother scored on a 34-yard touchdown run to provide the final margin and set the stage for the onside kick.

"I'm proud," Hatfield said. "I think this is a tough place to come in and play. So I was happy with the way we got better as the game went on against a good football team."

Louisa visits Powhatan next week. The Cyclones have a week off before they host William Monroe on Sept. 12.





Eastern View
0
7
7
6
--
20

Louisa County
7
12
0
8
--
27



First Quarter

Lo--K. Wynn 57-yard pass from D. Hollins (F. Ameling kick).

Second Quarter

Lo--A. Hunter 2-yard run (run failed).

--D. Robinson 15-yard pass from C. Whitlock (K. Schubert kick).

Lo--K. Davidson 15-yard pass from D. Hollins (run failed).

Third Quarter

--C. Whitlock 2-yard run (K. Schubert kick).

Fourth Quarter

Lo--A. Hunter 5-yard run (K. Wynn pass from D. Hollins).

--S. Strothers 34-yard run (kick failed).

TEAMSTATISTICS


Lo

First downs15
14

Rushing yardage26-78
39-119

Passing yardage200
179

Passes15-37-1
8-11-0

Punts-Avg.3-24
2-30

Fumbles-lost5-1
3-1

Penalties-yards 7-60
8-45



INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS

Rushing: Eastern View--Steve Strothers 12-63, TD; Cody Whitlock 12-13, TD; B.J. Minor 2-2. Louisa County--Anthony Hunter 17-63, 2TDs; Andre Hunter 6-30; Kendell Davidson 6-24; Rashawn Jackson 6-7; Dillon Hollins 4-(-5).
Passing: Eastern View--Cody Whitlock 15-37-1 200, TD. Louisa County--Dillon Hollins 8-11-0 179, 2TDs.

Receiving: Eastern View--DeShawn Robinson 7-81, TD; Matt Case 3-61; Kyle Schubert 2-31; Kevin Young 3-24; Conner Settle 1-3. Louisa County--Kerry Wynn 4-107, TD; Demetris Johnson 2-49; Kendell Davidson 1-14, TD; Rashawn Jackson 1-9.

========================================
The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company
=======================================
Louisa County High Schoo
757 Davis HwyMineral, VA 23117
=======================================