To say last Friday night was a night to remember might be an understatement. This past week, the varsity football team traveled to Albemarle High School to take on the Patriots, who entered the Jefferson District this year. With the cross-town rivalry, the atmosphere was intense and the Patriots wasted no time in putting seven points on the board.

Our Warrior offense, led by seniors Kent Henry, Nic Drapanas and Steven Hearn, quickly responded, and it was clear neither team would go down without a fight. At halftime, Albemarle was leading 14-7, but the Western team and student section were not quite ready to give up.

The second half saw a flurry of touchdowns as the offenses battled it out on the ground and in the air. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Henry connected with senior wide receiver Burks Summers, giving Western a two possession lead, and what seemed to be the win. However an Albemarle touchdown followed by a penalty resulting in Albemarle receiving the ball again quickly shifted momentum. Western trailed Albemarle 39-35 with only one minute remaining on the clock.

A frenzy of no huddle plays moved the ball down to Albemarle’s ten yard line with eight seconds left, leaving time for just one more play. In the final play of the game, Henry scrambled right and lofted the ball to the back right corner of the endzone where it was caught by Hearn, who had improvised his final route, as time expired. The student section rushed the field and created a dog-pile on top of Hearn as the scoreboard read 41-39.

The Warriors are now 5-0 for the season and will play Louisa at Warrior Stadium this Friday for Homecoming.