Blog LIVE Game Blog - Liberty Christian (6-1) vs. Heritage-Lynchburg (7-1)

[matthew328826]

Finally made it to City Stadium in Lynchburg for tonight's Seminole District showdown as reigning two-time VHSL Class 3 State Champ Liberty Christian (6-1) takes on Heritage-Lynchburg (7-1) in a matchup of No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings.

BIG shout out to DinwiddieProud for helping navigate me and Mr. Timmons to City Stadium after a car turned over on our way there and delay us about an hour.

We will have updates on the Blog in 2nd Half and via X or Twitter in the 1st Half...

 

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Correction on tweet above -- it should read first quarter and not 3rd.

 

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First play from scrimmage of the third quarter is a beauty if you're an LCA fan - - Jayden Cowart goes up the middle and races 70 yards to the house. It looked like Jayden Miller of Heritage might chase him down and made a diving effort, but Cowart kept his balance for the finish.

The 2-point try is intercepted by Heritage-Lynchburg LB Zaid Holloway. That leaves the Bulldogs lead at five, 19-14, with 11:42 to go in the third period.

 

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Heritage begins the ensuing possession at their own 29 and they begin with a 3-yard run on a QB keeper with Ayden Slash, their Player of the Year candidate. The next play is an incomplete pass that was too low by Slash. On 3rd & 7, it's Slash rolling to his right and finding Jermaine Jackson for a completion, but it's short of the sticks thanks to a firm tacklee from DB Jacob Parziale.

Jeremiah Davis tackles the LCA return man immediately. The Bulldogs begin their second possession of the half at 10:00 even and at thir own 37 with decent field position.

 

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LCA's first play of the second series in this third quarter is an incomplete where QB Luke Gaither is a bit late on the delivery. Dominick Jones and Tre'meek Hudson make a stop on Mason Gunn behind the line of scrimmage to create 3rd & 12.

Luke Gaither appears to have Jordan Burns on the move, but a really nice breakup from Jeremiah Davis of the Pioneers will bring out the punting unit for the Bulldogs with 9:03 left in the third period.

Really nice punt from junior Jett Johnson, getting plenty of hangtime on the kick. It means Heritage will take over at their own 18 with 8:51 to go in the third quarter, trailing 19-14.

 

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Heritage starts its second series of the third quarter looking to establish the run game. Gains of +5 by RB Zaid Holloway and +7 by QB Ayden Slash quickly move the chains. Little misdirection gets Jermaine Jackson on the edge along the far sideline, knocked out by DB Henry Maier after a gain of eight. Then it's Slash on the keeper, the other way, up to the 45-yard line as they near midfield following the 7-yard dash.

Slash breaks off his best scamper of the night, breaking away from a tackle and nearly going down, but somehow keeping the legs chugging for 37 yards to the LCA 18. The Pioneers are set up nicely now in the red zone.

 

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Ayden Slash underthrew his intended target in the end zone just a bit and Jordan Burns made an outstanding read to get it right at the one-yard line as he was heading out of bounds.

The Bulldogs can't breathe a sigh of relief because they have to be careful not to have a bad snap or negative play that results in a safety.

 

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Runs of +2 and +3 by Jayden Cowart give LCA some breathing room facing 3rd & 5 at their own 6 until a false start puts them back further, half the distance to the goal. Luke Gaither gets rid of the third down pass quickly and it's incomplete.

This time the punt by Jett Johnson is not nearly as great, though he is able to get it off and avoid it being blocked or a safety. Heritage-Lynchburg will now start its third series of the third quarter at the LCA 32 with 4:24 to go in the period.

 

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Heritage-Lynchburg goes to its running game with QB Ayden Slash and RB Zaid Holloway, trying to get small chunks patiently against a large LCA defensive front anchored tonight by Austin Tremblay and Roman Aronson (12 total tackles, 6 solo as we near the end of the third period by my count). All different angles.

Faced with a 3rd & 6 from the LCA 9, it's Holloway up the middle diving for just enough to get a first down. Two plays later, it's Slash finishing the deal on a touchdown run to the outside along the near sideline.

Then Coach Brad Bradley decides to go for 2 and give his team a field goal lead. It's good with Dominick Jones making the catch.

Slash with 16 rushes for 103 yards + Zaid Holloway with 9 rushes for 87 yards & 2 TD's.

 

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Jordan Burns returns the ensuing kickoff 28 yards to LCA's 39. Jayden Cowart rushes for five yards on the interior. Nice cut backs on his runs. Cowart gains three more to brings up 3rd & 2 from th 47 as the period comes to a close.

Cowart has 17 rushes for 153 yards on the night.

 

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What a throw by Luke Gaither, putting it ahead just enough for his WR in junior Jordan Burns to go catch up to it and race in the end zone. Burns beat the single coverage and Gaither has made some tremendous throws tonight.

Even more impressive, that's the third TD of the night on third down for Frank Rocco's Bulldogs.

Heritage-Lynchburg now has it at their own 29 with 11:45 to go, trailing 26-22.

 

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Zaid Holloway runs for a gain of four. On 2nd & 6, it's QB Ayden Slash trying to get outside and DB Jacob Parziale holds him to a gain of just three.

Slash is able to gain five yards on a run up the middle, knifing his way for the first down to the 41. Jayden Miller hauls in a pass on a curl from QB Ayden Slash, getting a few yards after the catch to make it a 12-yard reception into LCA territory. The Bulldogs had their DB's playing off and gave the Pioneers WR's a cushion to play with...

 

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We see why Kemondre Fleshman goes by the nickname of 'Flash' as he was gone to the house in a flash on that latest run, his best of the night by far.

He's a track star -- running a 10.76 100-meter and 6.54 55-meter.

 

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Liberty Christian gets the ball aback at their own 33 with 9:10 to go, bringing up 3rd & 2 after a 2-yard run from RB Jayden Cowart and then a 6-yard completion from QB Luke Gaither to WR Jordan Burns.

On 3rd & 2, it's Cowart fumbling the football, believed to be forced by Ray'Quan Rucker of the Pioneers. Could not tell who recovered it exactly, but the Pioneers get their first takeaway of the night.

However, Heritage, at the LCA 46, goes 3 & out as they get runs of +1 and +4 before QB Ayden Slash throws it away on 3rd & 5 with the pocket collapsing around him.

LCA fair catches the punt at their own 12 with 6:09 remaining.

 

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Mason Gunn gets a gain of three on the ground for LCA. Then it is a play-action roll-out, where QB Luke Gaither hits his tight end Austin Tremblay for five yards along the sideline.

Jayden Miller - who leads the Pioneers with 5 INT's on the year coming in - is able to prevent WR Jordan Burns from catching the inside slant on 3rd & 2. Incomplete. A time-out is called before 4th & 2 from the 20 as LCA might be mulling whether or not to go for it here, trailing 29-26 with 5:14 to play.

Both teams have 2 time-outs lefts.

This has been a heck of a ballgame.

 

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If Jayden Cowart handles the pitch from QB Luke Gaither cleanly, he might get a first down. But he did not and it results in Tre'meek Hudson dropping him for a loss of six.

Hudson came into this one with 10.5 sacks on the year.

Decision time for Heritage Head Coach Brad Bradley thought after a LCA time-out with 3:27 left. That's because after two runs got them just two yards apiece, the Pioneers saw QB Ayden Slash get dropped for a loss of 1 on 3rd & 6. Big tackle by Jacob Parziale of LCA.

Looks like Bradley is not trying the field goal up 29-26, but rather going for it on 4th & 7 from the LCA 11. Oh boy...

 

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It was about to be incomplete and Liberty Christian ball from their own 11 with just over three minutes to play and trailing Heritage-Lynchburg 29-26. However, the pass that Ayden Slash threw near the end zone on the far side of the field results in a pass interference penalty, which was clear as day. The LCA defender covering his intended target did not have to commit that penalty because the Pioneers WR was not catching the ball.

So now Heritage can chew more clock and put this one on ice with a touchdown, leading 29-26 with 3:21 to play at the LCA 5.

 

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Check that last post because it was not a first down. The PI penalty makes it half the distance to the goal and 4th & 1 from the 5! Heritage actually goes with a spread formation and they move the chains on a run up the middle with their interior o-line getting great push against a large LCA defensive front.

Two plays later, it's pay-dirt for the Pioneers.

 

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Ayden Slash has run the football 23 times for 121 yards and 3 TD's, playing arguably his best game agains the two-time defending State Champs.

Jordan Burns returns the ensuing kickoff 23 yards t to LCA's 36 with exactly two minutes to go.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Great blog Matt. And a great game that made your trials and tribulations worth what it took to get there. Travel safe getting home. Watch for deer, and cops with radar!!!

 

[matthew328826]

After a pass interference penalty on the Pioneers, it's Heritage appearing to get a fumble recovered by Dominick Jones that is forced by Ray'Quan Rucker. However, the officials say that WR Hayden Amendola was down for a gain of 14 yards to the Pioneers 38. Not so sure about that one. Anyways, the Bulldogs capitalize with the opportunity in front of them.

 

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Pioneers recover the onside kick and should be able to run the clock out with 54 seconds from their own 47 with just one time-out left by both teams.

 

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More to come later... stay tuned!

 

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Final Stats:

Heritage-Lynchburg Pioneers 35: (8-1 Overall)
Ayden Slash – 7-16 for 62Yds. 0-2 TD/Int. ratio; 24Car. 123Yds. 2 TD’s
Zaid Holloway – 12Car. 92Yds. 2 TD’s; 5 Tackles
Kemondre Fleshman – 3Car. 54Yds. TD
Taejuan Clark – 2Rec. 18Yds.
Jayden Miller – 1Rec. 12Yds; 6 Tackles, 0.5 TFL, PBU
Jermaine Jackson – 2Rec. 11Yds; 1Car. 8Yds.
Ray’Quan Rucker – 10 Tackles, 2 TFL, Forced Fumble, QBH
Jeremiah Davis – 10 Tackles (4 Solo), PBU
Tre’Meek Hudson – 9 Tackles, 2.5 TFL
Caleb Grant – 7 Tackles

Pioneers – 58 plays for 333 total yards (7-16 for 62 yards passing, 2 intercepts; 42 rushes for 271 yards); 4 penalties for 30 yards; 2 turnovers


Liberty Christian Academy Bulldogs 33: (6-2 Overall)
Luke Gaither – 13-24 for 253Yds. 4-0 TD/Int. ratio; 3Car. 6Yds.
Jayden Cowart – 20Car. 150Yds. TD; 2 Tackles
Jordan Burns – 7Rec. 144Yds. 2 TD’s; INT, PBU
Henry Maier – 1Rec. 66Yds. TD; 4 Solo Tackles, INT
Roman Aronson – 2Rec. 27Yds. TD; 15 Tackles (7 Solo)
Hayden Amendola – 1Rec. 14Yds.
Austin Tremblay – 1Rec. 5Yds; 4 Tackles
Jacob Parziale – 10 Tackles (7 Solo), TFL

Bulldogs – 50 plays for 407 total yards (13-24 for 253 yards passing; 26 rushes for 154 yards, 1 lost fumble); 5 penalties for 39 yards; 1 turnover

 

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Postgame Video Interview with QB Ayden Slash & RB/LB Zaid Holloway:



Heritage-Lynchburg QB Ayden Slash and RB/LB Zaid Holloway chat with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield following their team's thrilling 35-33 win over reigning two-time VHSL Class 3 State Champ Liberty Christian in a Seminole District showdown at City Stadium on Halloween -- Friday, October 31, 2025.

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Heritage-Lynchburg Coach Brad Bradley:



Heritage-Lynchburg Head Football Coach Brad Bradley chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Matthew Hatfield following his team's 35-33 victory over Liberty Christian at City Stadium on Halloween -- Friday, October 31, 2025.

Bradley's Pioneers had dropped six of the previous seven meetings against LCA, but won a game that featured seven lead changes. His Heritage squad improved to 8-1 overall on the season before another pivotal Seminole District matchup, at Jefferson Forest, on November 7th.