It seemed simple enough. Wet field, wet ball — advantage Bulldogs ground game.

  But Fluvanna quarterback Ryan Foster had other ideas as Goochland traveled 20 miles up Route 6 to take on the Flucos; and it was Fluvanna’s homecoming, a fact that didn’t seem noteworthy at the beginning of a Jefferson District match up that resulted in a 21-7 Bulldog victory, but became a GHS calling sign by the end.

  The talented Fluvanna quarterback, Foster, led his team on an 80-yard, 20-play drive that consumed most of the first quarter after the Flucos blocked a Bulldog field goal. Foster utilized running back TJ Dudley and wide receiver Yaya Anderson in addition to several quarterback draws to give his team a 7-0 edge with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter.

  “Ryan Foster is a weapon,” said Goochland head coach Joe Fowler. “That kid can play football, and he gave us all we could handle.”

  Fowler said Foster kept the Flucos in the game and was elusive when it counted the most.

  “We had them in third and long so many times in the first half and just couldn’t stop them,” he said.

  However, what was working for Goochland was an industrial strength running game that was chewing up yards slow and steady under the guidance of quarterback Matthew Henley.

  Henley relied on running backs Willie Ezell, Desmond Athey and David McKenna managing an effective attack with crisp fakes and an occasional pass.

  “We tried to play a finesse game in the first half, but we came out in the second half and played smash mouth football,” Henley said. “That’s more our style.”

  Henley also credited the offensive line for the success he had. “I haven’t felt pressured for the past three weeks,” he said. “Those guys are really playing great.”

  Following the Flucos score, the Bulldogs wasted no time and answered with a five-play drive that featured Ezell. The senior caught a 20-yard pass to put the Bulldogs deep in Fluco territory, and then scored on a 14-yard sweep. Colby Cooke’s point knotted the game at 7-7.

  “I thought it was huge for our kids to come back like that,” Fowler said.

  A long run by Foster gave the Flucos a late half opportunity, but they could not convert and the half ended with score level at seven.

  With the Flucos set to receive the second half kickoff, Fowler felt the series was key in the Bulldogs victory.

  “The defense came out and shut them down and got the ball back,” Fowler said. “I thought that was a key series for us.”

  After the stop, the Bulldog offense cranked out an effective 50-yard drive that ended with a Dustin Plummer touchdown, the first of his two second half scores.

  Despite the best efforts of Foster and Anderson, the Flucos could not crack a stubborn Goochland defense in the second half. Foster suffered several sacks and was hurried on almost every throw.

  “We didn’t want to pressure him too much because he hurt us with his legs as much as his arm, but we did get some sacks,” Fowler said.

  The consistent Bulldog running game eventually caught up with the Fluco defense and they surrendered a fourth quarter touchdown with Plummer again capping the drive with a five-yard run.

  “The offensive line did a great job opening holes and the backs did a good job running through them,” Fowler said. “The backs get all the credit but the offensive line really opened things up for us tonight.”

  He was also pleased his team got a win that did not come easy and was not pretty at some points. “I thought tonight’s win was a complete victory,” he said. “The offense and defense played well and the special teams did a good job. We had to fight for every thing we got out there tonight.”

  The Bulldogs up their record to 6-1, 3-1, and the Flucos fall to 2-5, 1-3.

  Goochland’s celebration may was short-lived as the team already began considering this Friday’s big home match up against Louisa. “They’ll bring about four grand (fans) over there and lions and tigers and bears… and everything else,” Fowler told his team after the victory.

  “Even when we won the state, people said we weren’t as good as Louisa. We get a chance to prove who we are next Friday night. This is what we’ve been waiting for.”

  The win over the Flucos also marked Goochland’s third homecoming victory this year. Fowler suggested the team is quickly becoming known as home wreckers, a fact few disappointed Fluco fans would argue with.

Goochland———————0 7 7 7—21
Fluvanna———————  0 7 0 0—7
F—Denby 1 run (Lewis kick)
G—Ezell 20 run (Cooke kick)
G—Plummer 5 run (Cooke kick)
G—Plummer 6 run (Cooke kick)