Fluvanna County High School Flying Flucos Football is, yet again, in a period of transition this fall at Costello Stadium. However, Jason Barnett, who was chosen as the interim head coach in July, is preparing his team to take on the best football teams the Jefferson District has to offer.  Barnett said his goal is to carry his team to a winning record, and he believes that his varsity team can do it. Right now, he is concentrating on fielding a playoff football team, as the decision for permanently filling the head football coach position will occur later this school year.

Barnett is a longtime resident of Central Virginia. He was born and raised in Crozet and attended Western Albemarle High School, playing three sports on campus, including football. He holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Longwood College (now Longwood University) and played on a collegiate baseball team. He later returned to Western Albemarle High School, working on the staff of the Warriors’ varsity football team from 2001-07—three of those years were spent as the team’s defensive coordinator. He also served as the girls’ basketball coach, carrying them to a championship and receiving the Coach of the Year award in 2008.

Barnett came over to Fluvanna High School in 2008 and served on the staff under Coach Gray and as defensive coordinator on the staff of Coach Rodney Red during the 2009 season. He is a resident of Fluvanna County, living with his wife and his two daughters and son.

Barnett, who also teaches mathematics at Fluvanna High School, was offered the interim head coaching position, near the end of July, after conferring with the principal and the school’s athletic director. The administration felt Barnett had the capability to lead the Flying Flucos football team to the next level. With the short turnaround time, it did not give him much time to prepare the new players who were coming on board the squad, a time that usually averages a “minimum of four months” before the season begins. 

“I was not afforded that luxury” so “we had to put things together on the fly,” Barnett said. According to him, things have not changed much for him as a coach on the field, but as head coach, he has had to move quickly and work very closely with his staff to prepare the athletes for the up and coming football season.

“Support has absolutely been amazing,” he said, as he talks of the preparations that have been going on as the season begins. “Everyone has been extremely positive. People have been coming out of the woodwork to help out.”

The transition has only been a good thing for the new coach as the program gets started under his direction. The support from Fluvanna is something he said he truly appreciates and is extremely grateful for.

Barnett wants to send out a team onto the field that is “athletic” not wanting to just focus on one side of the ball over another. “We are in this for 11,” says the coach. He wants to focus, at all times on the 11 players on the field no matter what side of the line of scrimmage they are facing.

Barnett is also thinking post-season and the playoffs. He sees this year’s team ready to go to districts and beyond as he shoots for a winning record. “We are selling ourselves short,” Barnett said if the Flucos do not reach post-season. He said he believes he has the group of players that have the work ethic and the want to put out the hard effort required to put points on the board and have a bigger number in the “win” column. 

His team is anxious to take on the best teams in the area. He does not like the “L” word, but he and the Flucos are prepared to take what is given to them on the field on Friday nights. What he and his varsity team are wanting this season, though, are wins.

Barnett is ready to add some new wrinkles to his offense with much help and the leadership of Ya Ya Anderson and T.J. Dudley returning from last season. His backfield showcases two powerful runners and an all-around athletic tight end that can catch as well as block defensive players. Barnett has many weapons to employ on the offense and much of the offensive line has returned for this season, offering experience in protecting the quarterback and opening holes for the runners.

The Fluco defense is made up of young players that have some playing time at varsity level.  They are going “to stick their noses” into the opposing offenses and make the needed big plays.  The special teams are also being emphasized by the coach as an important element for the Flucos.

At the time this article was written, the Flucos have already played their first scrimmage, winning a tough 3-0 decision over Waynesboro High School. This pre-season win is what Barnett looking for this year. The first official game of the season will be played at Costello Stadium on Aug. 27, against Prince Edward County High School. Please come out and support Fluvanna Football and Barnett.