Gritty Vrhovac contributes across the board for AHS

Barely able to put weight on his feet, Zach Vrhovac limped into the Albemarle locker room.

His head focused on the rain-soaked pavement below. His heart was broken and full of regret. His body was battered even worse.

Yet with the exception of two stoppages in play to tend to cramping sessions in each of his legs, the two-way standout from Albemarle that is listed favorably at 155 pounds had done his part.

Vrhovac opened his final season at Albemarle in fine fashion, finishing with four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, and magically scooted into the end zone on a 9-yard reverse in the second quarter.

More importantly, Vrhovac epitomized an uncanny amount of heart displayed by a Patriot program apparently turning the corner towards bigger and better things.

Yes, Monticello upended Albemarle, 19-12, in a sloppy season opener, but signs of life were visible just over 365 days after the Mustangs cruised to a 28-point win in the county rivalry.

“We played really hard,” Vrhovac said. “We gave up a silly touchdown in the first half and we only gave up 12 points on defense against a very solid team.

“Monticello’s quarterback, Mike Graham, is a very good quarterback and they have some really good wide receivers. [Wideout] Jake Pelton is really athletic and [running back] Hines Banks played really well.”

With a host of pass-catching options emerging and with quarterback Jeremy Robinson showcasing considerable poise under pressure until heavy rain all but eliminated the passing attack, the Patriots have reason to be excited again on Friday nights.

It certainly helps when gritty players such as Vrhovac step into the huddles on offense and defense.

“Zach provides a big contribution to this team,” Albemarle linebacker Kendall Ravenell said. “Zach helps out a lot on offense and defense. Zach is a key player and we need him.

“He has a lot of heart and a lot of heart goes a long way.”

It was sheer determination that kept Vrhovac on the field after both cramping spells, the last of which came with 11:29 left in the game. Just over two minutes later, Vrhovac hobbled onto the field in time to break up a would-be touchdown pass from Graham to Pelton in the back of the end zone.

It was exactly the way Pelton had hoped it would be.

“I wanted him to be on the field because he is their best defender and I wanted to go against their best,” Monticello’s senior said. “It was good to see him come back out there so I could go against him.

“We always had to know where he was on the field. It was tough to see him going down, but he came back in and I was glad to be going against their best because if we can beat them we really earned it.”

Vrhovac, who also suffered a bloody nose on his third-quarter touchdown reception, said the contest’s score did not impact his decision — or desire — to rejoin his teammates.

“I can’t even tell you how bad I wanted to be out there,” he said. “I gave it all I’ve got. I gave it 100 percent and I left it on the field.

“This is the last 10 games of my career playing football and I am going to go out every single game and give it my all.”

One coach at Friday night’s game was happy the number — at least in regards to regular season games — has been reduced to nine.

“He’s a great player, I have so much respect for him,” Monticello coach Brud Bicknell said. “And after three years, I’m glad he’s gone.”

Zach’s father, Albemarle coach Rick Vrhovac, knew his son and others played through nagging injuries.

“Zach was burned out there in the fourth quarter ... and he was very tired,” the elder Vrhovac said. “We thought we had conditioned very well, but you can’t condition for game speed. It’s tough going every play both ways.

“Zach gives us a lot and a lot of kids do. He’s a good little football player and I love him. He’s my son. I love him, but I love all these kids.”

The younger Vrhovac, perhaps from living under the same roof as a coach, knows the most important games lie ahead for the Patriots. In the meantime, an emphasis on bettering a potentially potent offense will take center stage.

“Our offense, we scored 12 points and that’s not where we want to be,” Zach said. “We want to be in the upper 30s. We have the talent on this team to do that and we just didn’t prove it tonight.

“The season is not over. We will bounce back.”