The Fuqua School varsity football team did not get the homecoming win it was hoping for Friday night against visiting North Cross School, but the Falcons nevertheless continued to show their mettle and toughness against top opponents from a higher division of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA).

The undefeated Raiders handed Fuqua a 48-21 loss. But for having taken on an elite Division II team, the Falcons, a VISAA Division III squad, will be rewarded with bonus points in the power points system that determines which teams make the playoffs.

Though Fuqua has fallen to 4-3 after starting the season 4-0, it is rewarded for having such a challenging schedule.

Falcons Head Coach Ben Manis said his team played well Friday, for the most part, but the Raiders capitalized on four or five big plays.

“All of their touchdowns came on explosive plays,” he said. “It’s just we don’t have anybody to match up with everybody else’s speed. Everybody else has got that two or three kids who they’re just faster than us.”

In particular, he highlighted North Cross junior wide receiver Tyler Slash.

“He probably had 300 all-purpose yards by himself,” Manis said. “He killed us more than anything. He had kickoff return yardage and punt return yardage that was huge chunks of their yardage. Our kids did very well through two quarters to contain the offense of the No. 1 team in the division ahead of us on homecoming.”

Fuqua actually took a 14-0 lead in the first half after senior Ed Newman scored on a 25-yard fumble return and on a rushing touchdown.

The Raiders roared to life, taking a 28-14 lead at halftime.

The Falcons suffered a big blow near the start of the second half when they lost senior quarterback Devin Allen to an ankle injury. Manis said he may be gone for the season.

“It’s going to be hard to replace him,” the coach added. “We’re going to have to use several different players to replace him.”

North Cross expanded its lead to 42-14 in the third quarter before Fuqua junior Billy French ran for an approximately 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Allen went 3-for-5 passing for 59 yards and had seven carries for 43 yards. French had eight carries for 88 yards and a score, Newman had 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown and junior Ben Bailey gained 30 yards on 12 carries.

Fuqua visits Fredericksburg Christian School on Saturday at 1 p.m.