For about seven minutes on Friday night, Lee-Davis looked like it might be able to run with visiting Highland Springs.

  But after the Confederates were outfoxed by a fake punt that led to a second Springer touchdown at the end of the first quarter, followed by the quick conversion of a Lee-Davis fumble into a third Highland Springs touchdown in the first 15 seconds of the second quarter – momentum had established itself firmly in the favor of the visiting Springers’ and they ran away with a 38-14 victory.

  Highland Springs (5-2, 3-1 Capital) scored on its first possession, as did Lee-Davis (4-3, 2-2). But instead of staying neck-and-neck, the miscues with the fake punt and fumble put the Confederates at a disadvantage they could not overcome.

  Highland Springs coach Loren Johnson felt the fumble recovery was the key moment of the game.

  “I think that was huge, “Johnson said. “I felt that was turning point of the game really. It gave us a chance to get the ball right back on the first down. I think that was a big momentum changer for us.”

  The win sets up Highland Springs – ranked No. 9 last week in the Times-Dispatch poll – as one of the top teams in the intensely competitive Capital District.

  “They’re a talented team. They’ve gotten better,” said Lee-Davis coach Zac Hayden. “Last year, I think, they had some young kids. Their quarterback (D.J. Johnson) is now a sophomore. He looks like a football player. He plays like a football player. (Jerome Wright) is an incredibly talented young man. (Willie Stubblefield) is a good player. They’ve got a good offensive line. They’re well coached. They did a good job tonight.”

  Johnson ensured that the Springers’ passing game rather than their running game proved pivotal. He completed 10-of-11 passes for 174 yards and four touchdowns.

  Johnson’s favorite target was Stubblefield, who caught four passes for 77 yards, but his touchdown strikes were to Wright (12 yards), Kenny Oliver (4 yards), Ralph Stovall (26 yards), and Traquan Brown (42 yards).

  The Springers’ other touchdown was a 5-yard run by Roy Adams. In addition to kicking all the extra points, placekicker Oscar Portillo connected on a 30-yard field goal.

  Another key to the Springers’ victory was the physical play on both sides of the ball.

  “We just wanted to come out and play well, play physical,” Johnson said. “I think we did a good job of that this evening. … We wanted to dictate where the ball was going and how it was going.”

  Defensively, the Springers held Lee-Davis to 179 yards total offense – 115 on the ground and 64 in the air. The two Confederate touchdowns came on their first possession and their last – of the seven possessions in between, two ended in turnovers, four in punts, and one ended as time ran out in the first half.

  Lee-Davis scored on 6-yard runs by Chris Simpson and Tyrell Eaton. Eaton added a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter.

  The Springers hope to keep building on their success as the Capital District season winds down.

  “You never know who’s going to come out of it in the thick of things,” Johnson said. “For the most part, we just want to play and put ourselves in a position to be in the thick of it toward the end of it.”

  The Confederates are more focused on improvement.

  “We’ve just got to keep getting better,” Hayden said. “We’ve just got three games left. We’ve got to keep working and try to improve.”

  Lee-Davis travels to Hanover this Friday night for a 7 pm. matchup. Highland Springs hosts Henrico then travels to Atlee the following week for what should be a key Capital District showdown.
 
Highland Springs.. 14 17 7 0—38
Lee-Davis…............  6   0 0 8—14

HS – Oliver 4 pass from Johnson (Portillo kick)
L-D – Simpson 6 run (pass failed)
HS – Stovall 26 pass from Johnson (Portillo kick)
HS – Wright 12 pass from Johnson (Portillo kick)
HS – FG Portillo 30
HS – Brown 42 pass from Johnson (Portillo kick)
HS – Adams 5 run (Portillo kick)
L-D – Eaton 6 run (Eaton run)

RUSHING

Highland Springs – Taylor 11 carries 78 yards, Adams 13-78, Wright 7-35, Johnson 5-5, Smith 1-17, Scott 9-27, Oliver 1-4, Brown 1-10, Cash 1-(minus 9), Williams 4-19. Lee-Davis – Vaughan 12-22, Simpson 12-86, Eaton 6-7.

PASSING
Highland Springs – Johnson 10 completions 11 attempts 174 yards, 0 interceptions. Atlee – Vaughan 6-14-64-1.

RECEIVING

Highland Springs – Brown 2 reception 48 yards, Stubblefield 4-77, Oliver 1-4, Stovall 2-33, Wright 1-12. Lee-Davis – Eaton 3-35, Simpson 2-23, Smith 1-6.

Records: Highland Springs (5-2, 3-1 Capital), Lee-Davis (4-3, 2-2).