September 1, 2011

The Louisa County is quickly becoming known as the "comeback community." On Thursday night both high school students and fans attended a pep rally ahead of their big home football game Friday night.

During the event, one speaker pointed out the irony saying Louisa County was "put on the map by an event that nearly wiped it off the map."

The pep rally was held at what the Louisa lions call "The Jungle," which is the football stadium and where they turned the rumbles of an earthquake into the roar of the crowd.

Louisa County is a community shaken to the core, but is coming back stronger than ever. Hundreds of folks showed up at the high school football field to cheer on their football players.

"All of the community has come together," said Louisa resident Tasha Baylor. "We've come together as a family. This is what Louisa is about."

"I'm delighted," said high school junior and football player Zack Jackson. "Everyone is here together, the community's backing us up, we have the cheerleaders, the band."

Tears began to well in Baylor's eyes as she talked about how the students were able to escape the high school safely. "It's the kids that bring Louisa together and that's the best part."

Kids both young and old in Louisa have walked the halls of the high school and may never again. But they were there Thursday night to fight on as a team and a community.

The teammates were also drinking Orange Crush soda at the rally as a symbol of their will to "crush" Orange County at their first home game of the season Friday.

The Newsplex will be at the game to bring you the action and emotion live.