After suffering its first loss of the season two weeks ago, the Fuqua School football team needed to get back on track offensively. The Falcons did just that, with a 59-25 victory over fellow VISFA Division IV Playoff contender Roanoke Catholic last Friday in Roanoke.

“It was kind of a strange game that went from a back-and-forth game to how things kind of snowballed on them in the second half with a couple of easy scores on our part,” said FS head coach Skeeter Fore. “We really didn't do a good job of stopping them defensively, but we were still able to get a big lead.

Fuqua (7-1) set the tone early-on with a 63-yard punt return by Larry Haskins, and took a 14-0 lead on a 59-yard run by junior quarterback Charles Williams, before Roanoke Catholic scored on a 50-yard run of its own.

Fuqua led 28-13 at the break, and put the game out of reach on two big running plays early in the third quarter – a 28-yard run by Williams, and a 73-yard run by Michael Marquez.

Roanoke Catholic scored to cut Fuqua's lead to 40-19, but the Falcons responded with two quick scores – a 61-yard touchdown pass to Carter Cunningham from Williams, and then a 74-yard interception return by Williams.

“That was a weird play. Their quarterback went back to pass, and I think he might have saw Williams coming in. Just as he went to pass the ball or tuck it in, it slipped out of his hands, and Williams picked it out of the air. He got a step or two on the quarterback, and he was gone.

“When Charles, Haskins or Marquez can get a step or two on everyone, it's hard for anyone on our level to catch up. We've even told our guys that once they break free, to just stop. There's no need to risk getting an unnecessary clipping penalty.”

After giving up a fourth RC touchdown Williams closed out the scoring with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

On the night, Williams rushed only eight times for 116 yards and four touchdowns. He was 2-3 passing, with one toss going to Cunningham for a 61-yard touchdown, and the other going to Marquez for 23 yards on a screen.

Marquez rushed eight times for 103 yards and a touchdown, while Haskins rushed 12 times for 87 yards, and had the punt return for a touchdown.

Twice, Fuqua benefitted from failed onside kickoff attempts by the Celtics, which gave the Falcons possession on the RC side of midfield.

“We scored about every way a team can score a touchdown,” said Fore. “I guess that plays into the strangeness of the game. We had some easy scores, but we gave up some things on defense that we're definitely going to need to work on.”

Defensively, Haskins led the Falcons with nine tackles plus three assists, while Clayton Worrell tallied eight tackles, plus 11 assists. Williams had tackles on the night, with four assists and an interception return for a touchdown, and Marquez had five tackles, an assist and a fumble recovery.

Fuqua will host Hampton Roads Academy this Friday night for a 7 p.m. contest.