WILLIAMSBURG — It looked like a Baltimore Ravens pep rally might break out before Bruton’s Bay Rivers District home match Monday against Lafayette.
A swarm of purple and black Ravens No. 34 jerseys spilled into one corner of the gym, reserved for the family and friends of Lorenzo Taliaferro. The green No. 11 of the former Bruton standout and current Ravens running back was retired in a ceremony preceding Bruton’s 60-34 romp over the Rams.
The support was nothing new for Taliaferro, who was drafted by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Coastal Carolina.
“That’s how it is,” said Taliaferro. “My family takes a bus to every home game with 60-70 people on the bus. This is nothing new for me on their behalf. I didn’t expect all the other fans to be here, as many it was. But you know, my family, they’ve been my biggest supporters since day one.”
Taliaferro ran for 1,678 yards and 21 touchdowns as a high school senior, leading the Panthers to the 2009 Group AA Division 3 state championship game.
He made a stop at Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania before earning All-American honors at Coastal Carolina.
Taliaferro was flooded with autograph and photo requests from the moment he stepped foot in Bruton’s gym. He took a moment to sign the white No. 34 numerals on a young boy’s purple jersey before entering the crowded gym.
“It’s one thing to just have it on your jersey and play with it,” said Taliaferro. “That’s one thing. But when you actually come to a place like this or your just out and about and you see people with or jersey or T-shirt on with your name on it, it goes to show that anything is possible. You just can’t give up.”
Richard Onesty, Bruton’s athletic director, introduced Taliaferro before presenting him with the framed Bruton No. 11 that will share space on the school’s walls with other former Panthers football greats Bryan Randall and Jermaine Burke.
Taliaferro rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season for the Ravens before being placed on injured reserve in December. He’ll head back to Baltimore on Tuesday to continue rehab on his foot.
The pregame energy seemed to transfer to Bruton, which jumped out to a 16-5 lead.
The Panthers (15-1) outscored the Rams 45-15 in the first, second and fourth quarters combined.
Winning the third quarter, 19-15, was one of the few bright spots for Lafayette (6-8).
Now fighting the injury bug, the Rams have been regularly playing three games per week to make up for starting the season late because of the football team’s state championship run.
“I don’t know if they’re running out of gas or what,” said Lafayette coach Bobby Woollum. “It’s just not good. It’s on them. They have to decide if they want to finish the season strong.”
Bruton’s Jalen Carr followed up a strong showing Friday in a win over Jamestown with 12 points Monday to lead the Panthers. Shaquan Edwards had 11 points for Bruton and Daniel Jones 10.
Bruton has posted eight straight wins since its only district loss against Grafton. The Panthers get another chance against the Clippers on the road Friday.
“I feel much better this game here because the kids actually came out and played,” said Bruton coach Brenner Carter. “We played four quarters for maybe the first time all year.”
BRUTON 60, LAFAYETTE 34
LAFAYETTE: Jefferson 10, Woollum 3, Harley 4, Cannady 4, Neville 8, Epps 5. Totals 11 10-15 34.
BRUTON: Jones 10, Kissoon 1, Carr 12, Edwards 11, Taylor 8, Adkins 4, Danek 9, Teach 3, Taylor 2. Totals 21 16-22 60.
Lafayette 5 5 19 5 — 34
Bruton 16 8 15 21 — 60
3-point goals: Bruton 2 (Carr 2), Lafayette 2 (Jefferson, Woollum).
