Fuller helps Richlands stuff Brookville

Austin Fuller gained another believer Saturday.

"There’s a reason number one’s going to [Virginia] Tech," Brookville coach Jeff Woody said.

Playing arguably the best game of his sterling career, Fuller led Richlands to a physical 24-14 win over Brookville in the Division 3 semifinals at jam-packed Ernie Hicks Stadium.

Fuller intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble which set up his touchdown run late in the first half and helped hold a Bees offense which was averaging nearly 32 points per game to its second-lowest output.

"The defensive line and linebackers stepped it up and made some big plays," Fuller said.

His attempts at deflecting credit didn’t get far with senior Matt Davis, who benefitted from the Bees’ Fuller-conscious coverage scheme to haul in first half TD catches of 18 and 30 yards.

"They were double-covering Austin and using an undersized guy to cover me," Davis said. "They just left me open.

"Austin was just flying around [on defense] and hitting people; it reminded me of the state championship game last year. He was doing a great job."

Although neither play led to scores, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound Fuller may have been at his best on a second quarter punt return of 52 yards and a kickoff return of 58 yards in the third quarter.

Fuller’s offensive stats – five catches for 28 yards and six rushes for 15 yards – were modest, unlike his impact on the game.

"He was pumped up today," Richlands coach Greg Mance said of Fuller, his stepson. "He had something to prove. He can play on offense and defense.

"They put No. 3 [6-6 Logan Thomas] on him and it took away our fades and jumps from us, but in a game like this, players find a way to win games. It’s always that way."

Fuller’s first interception wowed Woody, Brookville’s 28-year old coach. With the Blues (11-2) clinging to a 21-14 third quarter lead, Fuller made a diving one-handed catch, somehow getting his right hand under the ball at the Bees’ 47.

"The best interception I’ve ever seen," Woody said. "Everywhere the ball was, he was there. Seemed like when we could have a big play, he was there."

Brookville (9-4) scored on its first possession of each half, but otherwise couldn’t exploit its speed advantage against a well-coached opponent.

Its last attempt to resulted in the game’s most critical turnover. Sophomore wideout Lorenzo Smith appeared to have plenty of room on a reverse from right to left, but dropped the ball at the Richlands 16, where Chuck Payne recovered it.

Seven plays later, senior Romulo Fajardo toed a 19-yard field goal with 1:54 left in the game for an insurmountable 10-point lead.

Fajardo rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries despite missing chunks of the second half with leg cramps. Junior quarterback Joel Elswick threw for 188 yards on 13-of-21 accuracy, but also tossed two interceptions.

Thomas got off to a good start, completing 5 of his first 7 passes, but cooled off drastically, finishing 9-of-25 for 132 yards as he was consistently pressured.

Running back Stacy Houston rushed for 78 yards and both Bees touchdowns, but also lost the second quarter fumble which Fuller recovered.

"They talked about how physical they were going to be all week," Richlands linebacker Shane Wicks, who caused the fumble, said. "We showed them how we play football in southwest Virginia."

Richlands will play Monticello at noon next Saturday in Lynchburg for the Division 3 title. It will be the Blues’ third straight state championship appearance.

"Not many teams are able to do that," Wicks said. "It will be my third time there ... what a great, great feeling."

Brookville 7 0 7 0–14

Richlands 7 14 0 3–24

Scoring Summary

Ric–Davis 18 pass from Elswick (Fajardo kick), 9:57 1st

Bro–Houston 17 run (Toroff kick), 3:23 1st

Ric–Davis 30 pass from Elswick (Fajardo kick), 8:45 2nd

Ric–Fuller 2 run (Fajardo kick), 3:02 2nd

Bro–Houston 4 run (Toroff kick), 8:59 3rd

Ric–Fajardo 19 FG, 1:54 4th

Team Stats

First Downs: Bro 15, Ric 12; Rushes-Yards: Bro 33-128, Ric 29-58; Passing Yards: Bro 132, Ric 188; Comp-Att-Int: Bro 9-25-2, Ric 13-21-2; Fumbles-Lost: Bro 2-2, Ric 0-0; Penalties-Yards: Bro 7-50, Ric 6-50; Punts-Average: Bro 3-36.3, Ric 2-38.5.

Individual Stats

RUSHING: Brookville–Houston 20-78, Thomas 9-49, Bateman 2-10, Smith 2-(-9). Richlands–Fajardo 13-56, Fuller 6-15, Cordle 1-3, Schweingruber 1-0, Team 1-(-2), Elswick 7-(-14).

PASSING: Brookville–Thomas 9-25-2-132. Richlands–Elswick 13-21-2-188.

RECEIVING: Brookville–Mason 5-86, Weiss 2-28, Burns 1-10, Smith 1-8. Richlands–Fuller 5-28, Davis 3-78, Fajardo 2-44, Schweingruber 2-21, Addison 1-17.