November 13, 2010
By Shane Mettlen
Special to The Winchester Star

MINERAL- After rolling past James Wood 34-7 in the opening round of the Region II, Division 4 playoffs Friday, Louisa County coach Mark Fischer was already looking forward to next week, when he believes his Lions might have the opportunity to play the role of underdogs for once.

"We're going to the bigs now," Fischer said. "We know we'll be the underdogs and don't have a snowball's chance. That's fine. It takes the pressure off of us."

Fischer might have been overstating the situation. But Louisa, which improved to 11-0, had a target on its back all season as the favorites in the Jefferson District, and the top-seeded Lions will play host to powerhouse Broad Run next Friday at 7:30. Fischer said he knows his team will have to play better to advance.

James Wood (6-5) went into the half feeling good about its chances Friday night after a spectacular defensive effort kept the eighth-seeded Colonels in reach. Louisa's only points in the first half came on a two-yard touchdown run by Rashawn Jackson early in the second quarter and the Lions led 7-0 at the intermission. But Jackson was far from done. The senior running back/linebacker finished the game with 63 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns to go along with a pair of key interceptions on defense.

"I wish I could clone him and make a lot more of him," Fischer said. "He plays great football, but you won't find a better human being on this Earth."

Jackson wasn't alone getting it done on the ground for the Lions, who steadily built a 34-0 lead in the second half. Senior running back Anthony Hunter led the Lions with 157 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Junior quarterback Kire Worley also rushed for 73 yards on nine carries and threw for 78.

"James Wood came up with a good scheme and I'd have to say [Mike Bolin] outcoached me in the first half," Fischer said. "That's team that had nothing to lose and came in and played their hearts out and you got to give them credit."

The Colonels scored on a three-yard run by Cory Schrock with 1:38 remaining.

The Lions move on to face a tough Broad Run team, but Worley said the goal remains the same as it has all year in Louisa.

"I didn't expect us to blow up like that in the second half, but we picked out what worked at halftime," he said. "My expectations now are the same as in July. We expect perfection."