Warriors keep winning
The Daily Progress/Megan Lovett
Cody Davis (center) of Western Albemarle pulls in a touchdown pass during the second quarter against Louisa County.
Published: October 3, 2009
It was a homecoming game to remember for Western Albemarle, which came into Friday’s important Jefferson District showdown undefeated, and were facing a Louisa County team fresh off a 56-point win over William Monroe.
Western again got a huge game from senior quarterback Stephen Schuler, who was 20 for 41 for 248 yards and three touchdowns, as the Warriors (5-0, 2-0 JD) knocked off the visiting Lions, 26-7, in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Fellow senior Dom Losco also had a big night on both sides of the ball, hauling in a team high nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, and on defense, intercepted three passes, two of those in the fourth quarter, to help thwart any chances of a comeback for Louisa.
“This was a huge win,” said Losco, who led the team with eight solo tackles. “They’re a really good team, we just came out strong, and I think homecoming helped us, got us excited and pumped up.”
The Lions shot themselves in the foot all game long, committing four turnovers in each half. On Louisa’s second possession in a scoreless tie, quarterback Dillon Hollins tried to pitch the ball on an option run to Rashawn Jackson, but the ball hit the ground and was scooped up by Western’s Cody Davis, who took it 54 yards to the house and give Western an early 7-0 lead and a ton of momentum.
Schuler hooked up with Christophe Drapanas on the first play of the second half on a 39-yard touchdown strike, and Western led 13-0. On Louisa’s ensuing possession, Anthony Hunter ran 44 yards on first down, and Western committed a horse-collar penalty, and the Lions had the ball deep in Warriors territory.
The drive stalled, and the Lions went for it on fourth and four, but Kire’ Worley’s pass to a wide-open Jackson slipped away from his grasp.
Schuler then hit Losco a few minutes later, and Western was in control, 20-0.
“That was all Stephen,” admitted Losco. “He put the ball on the money. It’s amazing how he played tonight.”
Tyler Ward finished the game with four catches for 76 yards, as well as an interception. Davis found the end zone again for his second of the contest on a two-yard catch from Schuler.
The Lions got on the board with just over seven minutes left, as Worley hit Jackson on a 39-yard strike, but the onside kick was recovered by the Warriors to seal the victory.
Louisa drops to 3-2 on the season, but remains just a game back of first place in the district at 1-1. The Lions will host Orange County next week, while Western looks to remain perfect when the Warriors travel to fellow unbeaten Charlottesville.
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Reader Reactions
I live in Louisa and I am a native of Louisa. We must remember that high school sports are about the kids that play. It should not be about the coaches and/or winning or losing. It is my understand that building better citizens and sportsmanship are VHSL top priorities (see www.vhsl.org). I was not at the game. As a parent and a high school sports fan I feel that we must remind our coaches that they’re teachers. They should always conduct themselves in the same professional manner as other teachers do. Just as it is a privilege for students to play sports it is a privilege for them to coach sports. Lets not point blame. We are all to blame. As parents and fans we must demand more from our coaches, athletic director, principals and school administration. Remember it is not about winning and losing, but it is about how you play the game. We are imperfect aand subject to error and mistakes. That includes officals too.
Your right this can go on and on, but one thing I must correct you on; the coach was not punished for his actions during the 4th qtr. or his actions after the game. The 15 yard penalty came in the 1st qtr. while he was arguing a non-call, he thought there should have been a defensive pass interference call in the end zone. To my knowledge he has not been reprimanded for his inappropriate actions after the game. Every team has there moments and no one team is made up of angels, but unfortunately this was not one of Louisa’s better moments. As I said they have a reputation for not losing well.
It looked pretty even because there were a few not thrown (toward WA). Over and done with. Head Coach got his punishment, 15 yards. What about at the end of the game? WA shouldnt be punished for not extending his hand but rather wanting to act like he was going to jump the assistant? This could go on and on. Staff and Facility should act more appropriately when it comes to filling those role model shoes. It wasnt just one sided.
Well Junglegirlie, let me reiterate I was not there as a fan, nor did I have a horse in the race. I have been on many sidelines and have seen many games, and I have watched coaches act appropriately and inappropriately.
If I think the referees had a bad game I look at the box score and see how many penalties were thrown against each team, in this case Louisa had 8 and Western 7, that looks pretty even to me. Louisa has a reputation for not losing well, and Louisa’s coaches were as classless as I have seen in a very long time. In my opinion at the very least the head coach should be suspended for a game, and the assistant should be on probation. Coaches are the leaders of the young men, and when a coach acts like an idiot it insights the players to do the same.
Ok. Where do I start, Louisa probably could have handled themselves a little differently on the sidelines, but honestly there were some really crappy calls that night, some of which were holding and pass interference. Then, When our coaches extend a hand out to shake the WA coaches hand and its dissed with a jump in the coaches face, that was unsportsman like conduct. So before people start coming out with Louisa being unsportsman like make sure you have the same conduct to be able to talk.
Well whether or not you believe me or not, it is totally up to the person; but I was on the Louisa sideline the entire night as a statistic recorder for the Jefferson District. First let me say the kids on both sides were well prepared for this game. Second Western came out and put the game away early. Third the Louisa coaching staff has nothing to be proud of, they whined the entire game, about every call and non call, then the Head coach began talking trash with a Western Player!!! Not a coach. How embarrassing for the Louisa organization. Even if the Western player was talking trash to him, which I have no idea, isn’t Louisa’s coach an adult and paid to act like one? My perspective was both the Head Coach and the Defensive coordinator acted like immature babies, and at the very least should be suspended by the league for a game if not more.
Addie B, Your opinion is obviously bias, to include all sports at Western, So I guess the Cross Country and Tennis Teams get chippy as well huh? Dont take anything away from those kids, they played a good game against a good team
So “local fan”, Western coaches weren’t involved in this at all? It was all the Louisa coaches, huh? Typical of you to think that way as a Western fan—-looking down your proboscis casting judgement, holier than thou…no school is as chippy as Western is in every sport across the board…we’ll see where the warriors are at the end of the year when it counts…
Congratulations to Western and Louisa on a hard fought ballgame last evening. Both team should take pride in the game they played. BUT I’ve never seen a poorer display of sportsmanship that than shown by the Louisa coaching staff. I hope they will apologize, first of all, to their football players, their fans, and then to the Western players, coaches and fans
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