Liberty Christian wins rematch with Brookville; advances to Regional Finals
Brookville High School, Stinger Stadium, Lynchburg, Va – One of the VHSL Class 3 Region C Semifinal games took place Friday night at Brookville’s Stinger Stadium as the 6-0 Bees played host to the 4-1 LCA Bulldogs. This was the rematch of a cross-town, week-2 contest where the Bees won 25-14. The Bulldogs came into the game on an upward trajectory since their opening game loss, appearing to be peaking when it matters most. Their momentum continued
on the night as LCA scored the game’s first 35 points on their way to a 42-14 playoff victory over Brookville, and abruptly ended the Bee’s championship aspirations.
Liberty Christian Academy’s coach Frank Rocco commented when asked about his team’s loss to Brookville earlier in the season that “we just weren’t very cohesive then, and playing a great, talented team like that (Brookville) you are going to shoot yourself in the foot, which we did. But over the course of the last 5 and 6 weeks, I mean, we’ve slowly gotten better and better”. The Bulldog victory sets the table for what should be an epic battle next week for the Region C Final when Liberty Christian takes on fellow Seminole District rival, Heritage High School, who knocked out Rockbridge County in the other Region C semifinal Friday, 48-10. When asked about the matchup, Coach Rocco said “…they’re great. Brad (Bradley) does a great job, the kids are tough, they are very complete, they have so many athletes. So we’re just thankful to be in it. We are going to host a game, host the region championship, and you know, Praise God.”
1st Qtr – LCA took the opening kickoff and moved 68-yards for the score on RB 1 Jaylin Belford’s (9-115, 2 TD rush, 2-29 rec) 9-yard TD run. The drive was kept alive on a 3rd and long when QB 7 Davis Lane (11/14-185, 2 TD, INT) hit WR 9 Will Wycoff on a 33 yard pass reception and again on a 4th and 7 when QB 7 Lane found RB 1 Belford for 8 yards.
LCA TE/LB 9 Will Wycoff picks up a first down after a 33-yard reception
The PAT was missed and LCA led 6-0. After a 3-and-out by Brookville, LCA’s QB 7 Lane found a wide open WR 15 Sullivan Holmes for 49 yards and RB 26 Cade Wycoff (17-134, 2 TD, rush, 2-20 rec) added to their lead with a 6-yard TD plunge.
WR/DB 15 Sullivan Holmes 49-yard catch sets up LCA with a first and goal
The PAT was good by RB 10 Caleb Davidson and the Bulldogs led 13-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Brookville WR/LB 22 Jaylyn Marshall gave the Bees great field position with a 46 yard return, but the drive stalled when LCA’s WR/CB 1 Belford intercepted the Bee’s pass and the Bulldog’s took over on their 15.
2nd Qtr – Three plays into the quarter, Brookville’s WR/DB 4 Caleb Christian returned the favor with an interception of his own.
Bee DB/WR 4 Caleb Christian picks off an LCA pass in the second quarter
Christian made an athletic play by tipping the ball in the air to prevent the reception, then he caught the carom giving his offense the ball back. Brookville picked up one first down but had to punt. LCA’s next drive featured 4 straight running plays to RB 10 Caleb Davidson (15-71) that picked up 34 yards. QB 7 Lane then connected with WR/CB 3 Delvonte McLean for a 13-yard TD pass.
LCA WR 3 Delvonte McLean catches a 13-yard TD pass from QB 7 Davis Lane
K 28 Chase Dupin added the PAT and it was 20-0 Bulldogs. The Bee’s offensive woes coupled with the tough LCA defense that only allowed 33 yards rushing forced another punt and the Bulldogs got the ball back with 3:44 left in the 2nd.
FB/TE/LB 22 Conner Hill celebrates with OL/DL 50 Zach Rice after catching a TD pass right before the half
They moved 70 yards and scored a touchdown on a quick hitting 2-yard pass from QB 7 Lane to TE/LB 22 Conner Hill with 7 seconds left on the clock. K 28 Dupin’s PAT put LCA up 27-0 at halftime.
3rd Qtr – Brookville took the second half kickoff and moved to LCA’s 35 yard line but failed to convert on a 4th and 8.
Three plays later, LCA WR/CB 1 Belford broke loose for a 51 yard TD scamper and when QB 7 Lane hit FB/LB 20 Thomas Murphy for the 2pt conversion it was 35-0 Bulldogs.
Three plays later, LCA WR/CB 1 Belford broke loose for a 51 yard TD scamper and when QB 7 Lane hit FB/LB 20 Thomas Murphy for the 2pt conversion it was 35-0 Bulldogs.
Bulldog WR/DB/KR 1 Jaylin Belford scores his second rushing touchdown on the night. This one covered 51 yards
The Bees finally got on the board on their next drive highlighted by a 61 yard pass from QB 7 Drake McDaniel (3-14 yds rush, 7/24-202 yds pass, INT) to WR/DB 5 Ethan Robey (2-71). RB 28 Tayshaun Butler scored from the 1 and K/P 23 Ethan Brown’s PAT was good to make the score 35-7 LCA.
Brookville RB/DB 28 Tayshaun Butler scores on a one yard TD run
The Bulldogs responded by driving 52 yards for their final score when RB 26 C. Wycoff scored his second TD on an 8 yard jaunt. The PAT was good by K 28 Dupin and the lead was 42-7.
4th Qtr – Brookville scored early in the 4th after LCA kickoff had pinned them back on their 3 yard line.
WR/LB 1 Jahee Blake turns on the after burners for a 97-yard touchdown
QB 7 McDaniel threw a short pass to WR 1 Jahee Blake (3-115, TD) and Blake did the rest, sprinting for the 97 yard touchdown. K/P 23 Brown connected on the PAT and the final score was 42-14. – The Machine
Offense:
Rushing– LCA – Jaylin Belford 9-115, 2 TD, Davis Lane 7-7, Cade Wycoff 17-134, 2 TD, Will Wycoff 1-(-2), Caleb Davidson 15-71, Thomas Murphy 1-2, Jordan Cowart 3-(-2) Brookville – Tayshaun Butler 8-9, TD, Silas Rucker 3-12, Drake McDaniel 3-14, Jaylyn Marshall 1-(-2), JT Brown 1-0
Passing– LCA– Davis Lane 11/14-185, 2 TD, INT Brookville– Drake McDaniel 7/24-202, TD, INT
Receiving– LCA– Thomas Murphy 2-23, Will Wycoff 1-33, Cade Wycoff 2-20, Jaylin Belford 2-29, Dillon Stowers 1-16, Sullivan Holmes 1-49, Delvonte McLean 1-13, TD, Conner Hill 1-2, TD Brookville– Caleb Christian 1-3, Tayshaun Butler 1-13, Jahee Blake 3-115, TD, Ethan Robey 2-71
Punting– LCA– 0-0 Brookville – Steven Pauley 3-36.6
Scoring:
LCA: Belford 9-yard TD run; PAT missed
LCA: C.Wycoff 6-yard TD run; Davidson PAT
LCA: McLean 13-yd TD pass from Lane; Dupin PAT
LCA: Hill 2-yd TD pass from Lane; Dupin PAT
LCA: Belford 51-yard TD run; Lane pass to T.Murphy for 2 Pt
BHS: Butler 1-yd TD run; Brown PAT
LCA: C.Wycoff 6-yard TD run; Dupin PAT
BHS: Blake 97-yd TD pass from McDaniel; Brown PAT
