Defense keeps Eagles in playoffs

Robert Anderson, The Roanoke Times
Published: November 16, 2008

ROANOKE — Liberty-Bealeton football coach Tommy Buzzo spent almost seven years of his life as a Roanoke city policeman.

He probably was never part of a handcuff job like this.

Buzzo’s defense completely locked up William Fleming on Saturday, limiting the Colonels to 45 total yards en route to a 35-6 victory in a Northwest Region Division 5 semifinal at Patriots Stadium.

Liberty-Bealeton (9-2) held Fleming to 18 yards rushing and the defense provided the first points of the game when Cortez Carter recovered a fumble by Colonels quarterback Derek Brown in the end zone.

Meanwhile, the Eagles racked up 407 yards as quarterback Nick Potts threw three touchdown passes, propelling them into next week’s regional final at home against George Washington.

Fleming, which won the Western Valley District title, ended its season at 9-2.

“I was worried about every facet of their game,” said Buzzo, who once played semipro football with the Roanoke Rush. “They’re bigger than we are. I think overall they’re faster than we are. Our young men just played really, really tough today. I’m so proud of our kids.”

Liberty’s defensive line — led by ends John Washington and Stefawn Ross — controlled the line of scrimmage all day. Fleming’s five blockers couldn’t handle the Eagles’ front four as the Colonels barely got into positive rushing numbers late in the fourth quarter.

“They’re pretty good up front,” Fleming coach Rob Senseney said. “I don’t think there’s any question about that.”

Fleming gave the visitors from Fauquier County some early help.

Shotgun snaps eluded Brown on back-to-back plays on the Colonels’ first possession of the game. The Fleming QB picked up the second one and was apparently hemmed in for a safety when he lost the ball and Carter recovered for a 6-0 Liberty lead.

“Trying to make a play, but it ended up in the worst,” Brown said. “I should have just fell on it. Things happen. They have a great defensive line. They fly to the ball. They were real athletic and real, real good.”

Carter had a feeling his touchdown might be a good sign for the Eagles.

“I saw the ball go over his head,” said Carter, a sophomore. “It looked like the guys had him wrapped up for a safety. I think it was Shawn Otte that popped the ball out. I just jumped down and was holding on for dear life to that ball. That got us up a lot, and we just took care of business.”

Mostly, that meant Liberty mixing its inside running game with Potts’ accurate right arm. The 6-foot-3 senior fired a 9-yard TD pass to Ross for a 14-0 lead, then hit Derrick Lee on a 10-yard TD and James Rogers for 73 yards in the second half despite a howling wind.

“Nick is a great quarterback,” Lee said. “It doesn’t matter the weather. He can do good anywhere.”

Lee made big plays on offense, defense and special teams. On a team that features Virginia-bound running back Corey Lillard and Virginia Tech-bound lineman Kory Gough, the 5-foot-9, 163-pound Lee appears to be the glue.

“We were planning all week how to beat them, how they played,” Lee said. “We just used what they did against them and tried to get open.”

The only downside to Liberty’s win was a knee injury to running back Wayne Fleming when he was hit in the end zone after scoring a 14-yard TD that put the Eagles up 21-6 at halftime. Buzzo said the junior’s status will be evaluated Monday.

“Football’s a tough game played by tough people, but that was a late hit,” Buzzo said. “He was 3 or 4 yards in the end zone.”

William Fleming’s lone highlights were a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter by LaCalvin Hickman and a spectacular interception by Shaquan Manning just before halftime.

The Colonels needed much more.

“It didn’t seem like we could put the brakes on,” Senseney said. “I think we exacerbated some things with some of our mistakes. That’s the sign of a good team. You get a team on the ropes and keep putting the pressure on.”