by James J. Lidington

WAYNESBORO
Isle of Wight Academy finished its season on a winning note, romping over Fishburne Military School 47-8 here on Friday.

The Chargers moved up a spot to fifth in the week’s Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Div. II Poll. Only an unlikely scenario — featuring an IWA win and losses by other key teams — could have moved them into playoff contention. Only the top four spots make the division’s two-week-long championship tournament.

With 1,000-yard rusher Donald King on the sideline, IWA went with a balanced rushing attack in which six different Chargers carried the ball. Hunter Edwards led the way with 68 yards on eight carries. Cameron Riblet had 63 yards rushing; Colton Heard had 47 yards, rushed for a touchdown and added another on a pass from Jordan Baines.

Fishburne’s first possession of the game ended after four plays and IWA got the ball at the Caissons’ 30-yard line. Four plays later, Baines dashed in from five yards out for the game’s first scoring  play.

The two teams traded fumbles and IWA benefitted from a poor Fishburne punt giving the Chargers the ball at the Caissons’ 29. Four players later, Heard rumbled in from the 2 and Tre Powell’s PAT made it 13-0 with 5:25 left in the first half.

Fishburne’s next series ended in short order when IWA’s Alex Stidham gathered in an errant first-down pass and returned it 40 yards for another touchdown. The PAT made it 20-0 with only 5 seconds elapsed since Heard’s touchdown.

Another Caisson drive stalled as the second quarter drew to a close and IWA got the ball at their own 13-yard line with fewer than 2:00 to play. Edwards ran for 14 yards and Baines found Damond Turner for a 41-yard play at set the Chargers up at the Fishburne 18 with eight seconds left. Baines then found Heard with another strike and the fleet-footed back found the front-corner pylon to make it 27-0 as time expired.

Turner returned a punt for a 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter and Kelvin Jackson hauled in another Baines pass for a 20-yard scoring play that made it 40-0. Turner later returned an interception 22 yards that, after a Powell PAT, made it 47-0 with 17 seconds left in the third period.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. He can be contacted at 357-3866.