Orange beats C’ville, 27-20

By Shane Mettlen
Sports Editor
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Despite a pre-game forecast that called for rain, the Orange County High School Hornets weren't especially worried that the weather might slow their high-powered offense. If Orange focused on the task at hand, the Hornets knew they'd be OK. 

They were right. A heavy first-half downpour and a 45-minute lightning delay didn't keep OCHS (4-3, 2-1) from racking up 341 yards of total offense in a 27-20 victory over Jefferson District rival Charlottesville (2-6, 2-2). 

"We were prepared for the rain," said OCHS quarterback Quintin Hunter, who threw for 182 yards and rushed for 91 more. "We weren't expecting the first quarter to be dry and when the rain came, we knew it would be like this."

The Hornets struck first, going 67 yards on 10 plays in the opening drive of the game. A 3-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Dominique Walker put OCHS on top 7-0. 

Charlottesville moved the ball well on its first possession, but had an unwelcome interruption after getting into the red zone. A bolt of lightning in the distance brought the game to a halt. But 45 minutes later, the teams returned to the field and Black Knights answered with a seven-yard touchdown run from LaCorie Steppe, making it a 7-6 Orange lead. 

The two teams seemed evenly matched in the first half, but the Hornets took advantage of a Charlottesville miscue late in the first half to gain some breathing room. A pass from CHS's Kevin Leatherwood slipped out of the quarterback's hand and traveled backward, making it a live ball.

Orange County defensive lineman Robert McBraye fell on the fumble and the Hornets took over on the CHS 15-yard line. On the next play Hunter found wide receiver Carnell Perkins for a touchdown pass and CCHS led 20-12 at the half.
Charlottesville wasn't through. The Black Knights took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and capped a 65-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run from Steppe. A two-point conversion tied the game at 20. 

"At times, we played well and at times, we didn't play that well," Orange County coach John Kayajanian said. "Charlottesville made some nice plays and sometimes when you are not playing that well you have to find a way to win and we found a way to win."

The Hornets didn't wait long to take the lead back for good. OCHS started with good field position on the CHS 43 and Hunter hit Perkins for another TD pass, this time a 37-yard bomb with 7:51 in the third quarter. From there the OCHS defense and a variety of Charlottesville penalties kept the Knights from getting back into the end zone. 

"The defense stepped it up when the offense was down," Hunter said. "The defense stepped it up big and won the game for us."

The victory was an important one as the Hornets are making a run at an appearance in the Division 4 playoffs. OCHS has three more district contests remaining and Kayjanian knows each one is critical. 

"Sometimes you don't play that smart but you get a win and you go on," he said. "We have to win every week and I told them that. Maybe that puts too much pressure on them but every week I think the teams are getting a little better so we have to step up even more."

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or