Liberty Christian beats Heritage 30-14 for Class 3-Regional Championship
Liberty University, Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Va – The VHSL football Class 3 Region C Final took place at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium Friday night in a game that pitted the Liberty Christian Academy Bulldogs against the visiting Heritage Pioneers. This game had a state championship type feel as both of these Seminole district foes came into the contest red-hot. Heritage trailed at the half, 16-7, but came out and quickly made it a 2 point game when they scored on their first possession in the 3rd quarter. The turning point of the game came late in the 3rd quarter, when the Bulldog defense forced a takeaway on free safety Will Wycoff’s bone-jarring, fumble-causing tackle which was recovered by LCA on the Heritage 6 yard line. 
Two plays later, his brother Cade Wycoff ran it in from 4-yards out to put the Bulldogs up by 2 scores, 23-14, with 20 seconds left in the 3rd.
LCA iced the game with a 5 minute, 80 yard TD drive on their one possession in the 4th quarter and picked up a 30-14 victory to move on to the Class 3 State Championship semi-final against the Botetourt Cavaliers in Daleville, VA. When asked about the matchup next Saturday, Coach Frank Rocco said “… I know that they are big and strong and a physical team… but, I mean our kids are just warriors, they’re great (Botetourt), I know, but we’ll show up and compete.”
First Qtr – LCA received the opening kickoff and 2 plays into their possession, RB/OLB 26 Cade Wycoff (22-169, TD rush, 1-4 rec) broke loose for a 51 yard run to Heritage’s 20 yard line.
LCA’s Cade Wycoff escapes Heritage defenders for a big gain
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 Pioneer defense stiffened however, and came up with a big stop on 4th down. After a Heritage punt, LCA’s WR/CB 1 Jaylin Belford returned the ball 53 yards to the Pioneers’ 1 yard line and on the next play QB 7 Davis Lane (12-59, 2 TD rush, 6/17-80, TD, INT pass) ran it in for the score. The PAT was no good and LCA was up 6-0.
Jaylin Belford’s punt return sets up the Bulldogs’ first score
It only took Heritage 17 seconds to take the lead when WR 13 Kenneth Crawford (1-73, TD rush, 3-42 rec) took the handoff on a reverse and ran 73 yards for pay dirt. K 32 Karson Adcock kicked the PAT and Heritage was on top 7-6.
Heritage’s Kenneth Crawford turns the corner and is off to the races for a 73-yard TD
The action didn’t stop there though as LCA moved 69 yards in a little under 4 minutes and regained the lead when QB 7 Lane hit TE/LB 22 Conner Hill for a 31 yard pass for the touchdown. K 16 Chase Dupin split the uprights and the Bulldogs had the lead 13-7.
TE Conner Hill hauls in a Davis Lane pass and races to the end zone for a 31-yard LCA score
Second Qtr – After the scoring flurry in the 1st quarter, both defensive units dug in and started coming up with stops. The Pioneers stopped LCA on downs, forced 3 punts, and got an interception by DB/WR 5 Jaylen Pennick.
LCA LB Dillon Stowers’ strips the ball as he tackles a Pioneer runner
Likewise, the Bulldogs forced 4 punts to go with 2 fumble recoveries and they converted one of Heritage’s fumbles into a 26 yard field goal by K 16 Dupin to take a 16-7 lead into the half.
Third Qtr – Heritage received the kickoff and it looked like their opening drive 
would end in a punt, but a roughing the kicker call against LCA gave them new life. They cashed in their opportunity soon after when QB 14 Kameron Burns (6/20-91, TD) connected with WR/DB 6 Keshaun Hubbard for 36 yard touchdown pass. K 32 Adcock added the PAT and it was a 16-14 LCA lead with 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
Heritage WR Keyshaun Hubbard’s 36 yard catch and run TD draws the Pioneers to within 2 points
The Pioneers’ defense forced a 3-and-out on LCA’s next drive and Heritage drove 46 yards to the Bulldogs’ 24 yard line after the punt. The Pioneers could not convert on a 4th and 5 and LCA took over on downs. The rushing combination of QB 7 Lane and RB/OLB 26 Cade Wycoff moved LCA to the Heritage 42 yard line, but on 4th and 4, Coach Rocco sent his punt team out. P/TE/LB Dillon Stowers bobbled the snap, but was able to get a 38 yard punt off which pinned the Pioneers back on their 4 yard line. It was on the next play that FS/WR 9 Will Wycoff made his presence known with the big hit that separated the ball from the runner and LCA recovered.
LCA FS Will Wycoff forces a fumble on the tackle that leads to a Bulldog score
RB/LB 26 Cade Wycoff scored from the 4 yards out and K 16 Dupin made the extra point for a 23-14 LCA lead late in the 3rd.
Fourth Qtr – There was no quit in Heritage as they gave the ball to 21 RB Rajan Booker-Felder (26-128 yards) and RB/LB 25 Jermoine Morris (3-18) and quickly moved to LCA’s 7 yard line with a 1st and goal.
Heritage RB Rajan Booker had a big night rushing for 128 yards
It was at that time that LCA called a timeout to regroup their defense. After the timeout, Heritage had 2 running plays for a loss, a holding and delay of game penalty, while Bulldog FS 9 Will Wycoff had another crushing hit to break up a pass and suddenly Heritage had a 4th and goal from the 30 yard line.
LCA stopped them on 4th down and took over on their 20 where they gave the ball 8 straight times to RB/LB 26 Cade Wycoff and moved to the Pioneer 2 yard line where QB 7 Lane scored and K 16 Dupin added the PAT to seal the Region C championship 30 -14.
LCA’s Cade Wycoff takes handoff from Davis Lane through hole opened by Zach Rice
Offense: Rushing– LCA – Jaylin Belford 4-8, Davis Lane 12-59, 2 TD, Cade Wycoff 22-169, TD, Caleb Davidson 1-2, Thomas Murphy 2-8 Heritage – Rajan.Booker-Felder 26-128, Kameron Burns 5-(-19), Jermoine Morris 3-18, Kenneth Crawford 1-73, TD
Passing– LCA – Davis Lane 6/17-80, TD, INT Heritage– Kameron Burns 6/20-91, TD
Receiving– LCA – Will Wycoff 1-16, Cade Wycoff 1-4, Jaylin Belford 2-13, Sullivan Holmes 1-16, Conner Hill 1-31, TD Heritage– Keshuan Hubbard 1-36, TD, Kenneth Crawford 3-42, Rajan Booker-Felder 2-13
Punting– LCA – Dillon Stowers 6-35 Heritage – Kameron Johnson 5-37.2
Scoring:
First Quarter
• LCA: Lane 1-yard run (kick missed), 8:04
• HHS: Crawford 73-yard run (Adcock kick), 7:47
• LCA: Hill 31-yd pass from Lane (Dupin kick), 3:56
Second Quarter
• LCA: FG Dupin 26 yard, 2:30
Third Quarter
• HHS: Hubbard 36-yard pass from Burns (Adcock kick), 10:03
• LCA: Wycoff 4-yard run (Dupin kick), 0:20
Fourth Quarter
• LCA: Lane 2-yard run (Dupin kick), 2:22
