FARMVILLE – Any student knows the value of extra credit, and when he takes full advantage of the extra opportunities, good things generally happen. The same holds true for football. Roanoke Catholic converted on five of its six two-point conversion attempts, while Fuqua got only two points on a pair of PAT kicks in what wound up being a 46-38 homecoming loss to the Celtics.

“An eight point difference in extra points,” said FS head coach Lewis “Skeeter” Fore. “That's the margin of their victory. It comes down to the little things. They did them, and we didn't.”

Fuqua scored on its first possession which was capped by a 28-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Charles Williams. A 73-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Larry Haskins with 43.1 seconds remaining in the period put Fuqua up 12-0.

The Falcons' problem with converting extra point opportunities was magnified early in the second quarter when Roanoke Catholic running back Christian Akers scored the first of four rushing touchdowns with 9:55 left in the half. He also converted on the two-point conversion to cut a seemingly comfortable Fuqua lead down to just four points.

Haskins scored his second touchdown of the night on a 22-yard run up the middle with 4:51 remaining in the first half, but again, the Falcons failed to capitalize on the two-point attempt.

Akers, who the Falcons seemingly had no answer for on defense, returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. He added his second two-point conversion to cut the contest to a two-point game at 18-16. Roanoke Catholic took the lead for good with a pair of third quarter touchdowns. Akers scored on a 58-yard touchdown run a little over a minute into the third quarter and later capped a long drive from seven yards out to put the Celtics up 32-18.

Williams pulled Fuqua back to within a touchdown with a 61-yard touchdown run with 2:32 remaining in the third, but Akers again answered with a touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Williams capped a Fuqua drive with a one-yard touchdown with five minutes remaining, and the Falcons pulled to within six points at 38-32 on the Falcons' second successful PAT kick.

Despite fumbling twice on the drive, Roanoke Catholic was able to put the game away with 2:21 left on a 48-yard touchdown run by Nick Nestor. Akers did add his fifth two-point conversion to put RC up by 14 points at 46-32.

Williams closed out Fuqua's scoring on a two-yard touchdown run with 51.5 seconds left. The score was set up by a 39-yard pass reception from Carter Cunningham to Williams. The Falcons were unable to cover the onside kick attempt.

“We obviously didn't stop Akers, and they did a good job of controlling the ball,” said Fore. “When they got it, they kept it a while, while we seemed to score very quickly. We're normally not very good on homecoming. Sometimes it seems like football is the last thing on their minds.”

Williams led the Falcons with 167 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries. He also had three catches for 48 yards. Haskins rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on ten carries. He hauled in three catches for 42 yards. Cunningham was 6-8 passing for 90 yards.

The loss to Roanoke Catholic cements the Celtics in the VISFA Division IV playoffs. Fuqua's playoff hopes were severely damaged in the loss, but with two games remaining, Fuqua still has a shot at the postseason as it fights for a spot with Hampton Christian.

“From what our coaching staff figures, we still have a shot. That Hampton Roads Academy game that was postponed due to the weather a couple weeks ago may still be a factor.”

Fuqua will host Chincoteague High School this Friday evening. Given Chincoteague's distance from Farmville, the game will kickoff at 6 p.m.