One thing has been proven true time and time again in so many season openers over the last two decades of Louisa County football’s renaissance when the cast changes as players finish careers or move on.
The Lions are still the Lions.
With an almost entirely new group of players taking the field, Louisa went to work as usual Friday in The Jungle and beat Patrick Henry-Ashland 35-14, finishing strong by pulling away from the Patriots with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns by Samuel George and Adam Mills.
Jahiem Jackson finished with 86 yards and a touchdown on nine touches and threw Louisa’s only three passes on the night as the Lions leaned on their old school run first, second and third identity while rolling up 313 yards on the ground with the single wing.
Jackson got the scoring started with an 8-yard touchdown that capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive in the first quarter. Patrick Henry answered with a rushing touchdown of their own on a long drive. Louisa built a 14-point halftime lead though with O-back Miguel Holmes powering in from nine yards out and Isaiah Haywood scoring from five yards out to make the score 21-7 at the break.
Patrick Henry cut the lead to 21-14 in the third, but Mills and George’s scores closed the door on any thought of a road upset for the Patriots.
Six players carried the ball four or more times for the Lions, with Mills rushing eight times for 84 yards, Haywood six times for 69 yards, George nine times for 34 yards, Lavatrell Creasy six times for 19 yards and Jayden Seaberry four times for 36 yards.
Louisa’s defense forced a pair of turnovers and the offense only surrendered the ball once.
The Lions (1-0) will host Courtland on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
