Warriors wallop Giants

WAYNESBORO - A week after a suffering a shutout loss to Liberty-Bedford, Western Albemarle knew it had to find a way to run the ball — fast.

“We were just going to try and come out and get a running game going because we didn’t get that last week,” said Western senior Schuyler Wilkerson.

Wilkerson did more than his part to establish the Warriors’ ground attack early, scoring three first quarter touchdowns en route to gaining 106 yards to spark Western Albemarle to a 39-6 victory over Waynesboro.

The Warriors (1-1) got a lot of help from three first half turnovers by the Little Giants, including a Taylor Pond interception on Waynesboro’s first offensive play that led to Wilkerson’s first score from 15 yards out less than two minutes into the contest. Matt Foley also yanked down an interception and Pond pounced on a fumble later in the opening frame to help set up Wilkerson’s next two touchdown runs.

Wilkerson averaged over seven yards a carry and finished with four scored on the ground, closing out his night with a 21-yard jaunt early in the third quarter that put Western up 33-0.

The senior running back wasn’t alone though, as Stephen Schuler and Cody Davis also made a big impact on the ground. Davis piled up 68 yards and a touchdown on just five carries while Schuler rushed for 78 yards on nine touches at quarterback for the Warriors.

Waynesboro struggled to move the ball early with the first quarter’s run of turnovers, and the Warriors put the clamps on the Little Giants’ two rushing threats, Terrell Thompson and Steven Brown. The lightning-and-thunder-style pair combined for just 20 yards, though they didn’t get a lot of opportunities as Western controlled the clock with Wilkerson, Davis and Schuler pounding away on the ground.

“We felt like we had to get a running game going or teams were going to load up on us,” said Western head coach Ed Pierce. “I think the offensive line did an alright job, and I think if they get better, with those backs we’re going to be alright.”