Bulldogs pull away in the fourth quarter, stay unbeaten, clinch Seminole District outright
Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA – The Seminole district is well respected across the state for the tough, high level of football that it plays, and that standard was met again Friday night when
undefeated Liberty Christian Academy and one loss E.C Glass squared off in the final regular-season game of the year. This game was important as it decided the Seminole district champion. LCA knew they could claim the championship outright with a win while EC Glass could claim a share of the title with a win. It had that playoff game feeling with both teams and communities bringing their passion.
“You could feel the energy,” E.C Glass Head Coach Jeff Woody said, “Everybody looked at this game as a playoff game with playoff preparation.” In the end the difference was Liberty Christian’s ability to capitalize in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs broke open a close 28-21 contest with two TDs. Both LCA and EC Glass continue their seasons in the playoffs next week. LCA will host Wilson Memorial in 3A, while EC Glass will play Louisa County at City Stadium.
First Quarter – LCA received the opening kickoff starting their first possession on their thirty-eight-yard line. Three plays later, the highly efficient offense of the Bulldogs were forced to punt, something that doesn’t happen often. Glass would take over for their first possession of the game but after being stuffed on 3rd and 1 the Hilltoppers punted back to LCA with 8:29 remaining in the quarter.
Following the punt, LCA would take over on their thirty-yard line. Immediately the Bulldogs went to work on the ground. 1 WR Jaylin Belford took the ball for 29 yards on the first play of the drive. Belford’s run would be followed by strong runs from 8 RB Gideon Davidson eventually Davidson would punch it in from 1 yard out and LCA would take the lead 7-0 with 5:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Bulldog RB/WR/DB 1 Jaylin Belford darts outside for additional yards
Glass took the next possession at their twenty-yard line. This drive was working well for the Hilltoppers as they drove all the way to the LCA twenty-yard line. LCA forced Glass to attempt a field goal, the attempt 
was blocked and eventually recovered by LCA on their one-yard line, the recovery was dangerously close to being a safety. None the less LCA would take over but not the way the Bulldogs would’ve hoped. Back-to-back false starts had the Bulldogs backed up even deeper in their endzone, but they would get a nice run from Gideon Davidson giving them a little more breathing room. Following the run from Davidson, EC Glass would force a fumble on the next play and retake possession at the LCA twenty-six-yard line with one minute remaining in the quarter.
LB/TE 18 Dillon Stowers bears down on Hilltopper QB 16 George White
Two plays later, Glass 16 QB George White would find 14 WR Eli Wood for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good and with 25 seconds remaining the game was tied at 7 as the first quarter came to an end.
Second Quarter – The battle of the heavyweights amped up as the second quarter began with LCA finding success on the ground as they did in the first quarter. The Bulldogs went 62 yards ending with an impressive 17-yard rushing touchdown from 8 RB Giedion Davidson and LCA would reclaim the lead 14-7 with 9:23 remaining before the half.
EC Glass RB/LB 21 Markevus Graves-Franklin out in space
Glass wouldn’t flinch following the LCA touchdown showing great confidence on their next drive. They started on their twenty-one-yard line and drove to the LCA thirty-eight-yard line before 16 QB George White hit 3 WR Lyvarius Gilbert on a 38-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up once again 14-14 with 5:59 remaining in the first half. LCA immediately attacked the Glass defense going 64 yards in just 2 minutes and 29 seconds with QB 7 Davis Lane running in a touchdown from 16 yards out. Lane showed his athletic ability on the run as he went untouched into the end zone. LCA would recapture the lead this time they wouldn’t look back. The turning point of the game would be on the next E.C Glass possession. EC Glass began the next possession at their sixteen-yard-line but were quickly forced to punt after going 3 and out. The punt was shanked giving LCA great field position starting their next drive at the Glass thirty-yard line. LCA would go thirty yards on their next drive capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run from 7 QB Davis Lane to extend the lead to 14 making the score 28-14 with 1:04 remaining in the first half.
Third Quarter – EC Glass started the half with the ball and scored on the opening possession of the second half. The drive was sparked by a huge run from 21 RB Markevus Graves a play that EC Glass Head Coach Jeff Woody said Graves asked for in the locker room. “Markevus said ‘Coach just give me the ball first play I got you’ and first play he nearly took it all the way” LCA was penalized on the end of the run for a horse-collar making the play 72 yards in total. 16 QB George White would hit 3 WR Lyvarius Gilbert once again for a 3-yard touchdown pass cutting the LCA lead to seven and making the score 28-21 in favor of LCA with 10:05 remaining. Both defenses would play well as the third quarter continued and the score would remain 28-21 as the game entered the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter –The fourth quarter started with EC Glass lined up to punt to LCA. The punt only went 11 yards giving LCA the ball on the EC glass thirty-one-yard line. On the drive 7 QB Davis Lane had a shifty nine-yard run and RB 8 Gideon Davidson punched in a touchdown run from three yards out, his third touchdown of the night making the score 35-21 with 8:20 remaining in the ball game.
LCA QB 7 Davis Lane throws a pass out into the flat
On the ensuing Hilltopper possession, LCA’s defense stood strong as LB 18 Dillon Stowers sniffed out a trick play on third down resulting in a huge tackle for a loss forcing a punt. Following the punt, LCA started on their forty-yard line. This time it was the older brother RB 10 Caleb Davidson ripping out strong runs before scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run to make the score 41-21 and essentially ending the game with just 3:29 remaining.
Following the victory, LCA Head Coach Frank Rocco was very complimentary “They are really good,” Rocco said “You got to give credit to them, they are a really good football team” Both teams will advance to the playoffs and will host their first-round match-up. – Josiah Elmore
Offense:
Rushing: LCA – G. Davidson 20/125 3 TDs, C. Davidson 11/73 TD, D. Lane 8/70 2 TDs
EC Glass – G. White – 6/18, M. Graves 5/79, J. Kittrell 3/9, M. Thomas ¾
Passing: LCA – Lane 6/11 81 yards
EC Glass – White 16/27 128 yards 3 TDs
Receiving: LCA – J. Belford 3/39, C. Clinton 1/24, G. Davidson 1/10 D. Stowers 1/8
EC Glass – M. Graves 6/48, L. Gilbert 5/74 2 TDs, E. Wood 2/30 TD
Scoring:
1st Quarter
• 5:27 G. Davidson 1-yard rushing TD
• 0:25 G. White 24-yard passing TD to E. Wood
2nd Quarter
• 9:23 G. Davidson 17-yard rushing TD
• 5:59 G. White 38-yard passing TD to L. Gilbert
• 3:20 D. Lane 16-yard rushing TD
• 1:04 D. Lane 11-yard rushing TD
3rd Quarter
• 10:15 G. White 3-yard passing to L. Gilbert
4th Quarter
• 8:20 G. Davidson 3-yard rushing TD
• 3:29 C. Davidson 1-yard rushing TD