Bulldogs shut out Warriors

GOOCHLAND — Goochland couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the regular season in its first year in the Group AA Jefferson District.

The Bulldogs, powered by their stingy and opportunistic defense as well as an effective ground game, stunned visiting Western Albemarle in convincing fashion to grab a share of the district title.

Goochland, which has won six straight games, handed the Warriors their first loss with the 23-0 win.

“Who would have ever thought we’d have shut out Western?” said Goochland coach Joe Fowler. “What a phenomenal football team they have, and for our kids to play that well is just amazing. Dan Summitt, our defensive coordinator, all year long has dialed the kids in, has worked with them, watched film with them and tonight they came through. And the offense did just enough to eat the clock up.”

Both teams had already secured postseason berths and will play in the Region II, Division 3 playoffs next week. Goochland will host Millbrook on Friday.

Goochland’s defense set the tone as Austin Jordan brought down Cody Davis in the end zone for a safety near the end of the first quarter. Despite three first-half turnovers, the Bulldogs held that 2-0 lead at halftime.

Stephen Schuler, who was limited to two completions in the first half, helped the Warriors move the ball effectively on their opening drive in the second half. Western got down to the 11-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth down thanks to the defense of B.J. Clark and Brandon Henry.

It took just six plays for the Bulldogs to score, as Willie Ezell capped the drive with an electrifying 81-yard jaunt into the end zone. The 6-foot, 200-pounder rushed for a game-high 132 yards on eight carries.

Western Albemarle again made its way into Goochland territory on its following possession but Clark came up with one of the biggest plays of the night, intercepting Schuler’s pass and dashing 84 yards for the touchdown.

The Bulldogs then went back to doing what they do best — running the football. Goochland racked up 363 yards with a stable of backs — Ezell, Dustin Plummer, Desmond Athey and David McKenna.

“It’s just one of those nights. We just didn’t execute the way we should have,” Western Albemarle coach Ed Pierce said. “I’m not taking anything away from them — that’s one great football team with a great offensive scheme. This game was won in the trenches and that’s what they did tonight.”

Athey and McKenna were the workhorses, rushing for 87 and 84 yards, respectively, while Plummer added 57 yards. Schuler was held to 35 yards rushing and finished 11 of 28 for 125 yards passing.

“We said all week, that we didn’t know if anybody lined up and hit them in the mouth and that’s what we do,” Fowler said. “We made a conscious effort that we were going to run the football right at them and see how they reacted. We felt like that was our strength and it might be their weakness.”