Takeyo Day gains big yardage as he stepped up and scored 4 touchdowns Saturday.
TAPPAHANNOCK- Momentum is not faithful at all. It goes when and whenever it chooses. Eventually it gets tired of switching sides and it settles down with that lucky team who is usually crowned the winner. For a while Saturday afternoon there was little indication who would capture the momentum and earn the trip the state semi-finals to face off against the 3x champion Riverheads Gladiators.
Rappahannock came out making sure Saturday afternoon would not be like the frigid Friday night in which they looked nothing like themselves. The Raiders drove down the field and set themselves up into Essex territory. KJ Gaines would avoid a sack shuffle a pass to his right to a wide open Tyler West who had blockers ready to escort him to the endzone untouched as Rappahannock led 7-0 with 7:30 left in the 1st.
Tyler West takes the shuffle pass behind the line of scrimmage to paydirt.
Essex drive would stall and Rappahannock would take over but Gaines pass would be intercepted Kae'naan Ball setting them up inside the Raider 5 yard line. On the next play, Avante Banks would get hit on the ball and fumbled which would be recovered in the endzone for touchback. Rappahannock would not be able to capitalize on the momentum and Essex would get it back ready to answer.
Takeyo Day would end an impressive drive with a 1 yard run and he would also get the conversion to make it 8-7 Trojans with 9:31 left in the 2nd quarter. Following a Raider fumble, Essex would start from the Rappahannock 40. Day would cash in again for a 14 yard run that put the Trojans up 14-7 with 5:40 to play before halftime.
KJ Gaines was the leading rusher for the Raiders and converted on several downs.
The Trojan faithful could feel their squad ready to pull away until Gaines would throw and deep pass hitting West in stride for an 85 yard touchdown pass to tie the game up 14-14 with 1:21 before the half. That's how it would be at halftime.
In the second half Essex came out ready to change things around and it would take a minute. Tahraun Hammond would start finding daylight and would end the drive with a 15 yard run. Day would get the two-point conversion and Essex led 22-14 with 11:01 to play in the 3rd.
Tahraun Hammond got things rolling in the 2nd half for the Trojans.
Gaines and Rappahannock would not go away. After a few key conversions, Gaines would find Demetrius Parker for a 46 yard touchdown pass. Gaines would run the option and get into the endzone for the conversion to make it 22-22 all at the 6:51 mark of the 3rd.
Rappahannock believed they could pull it out when things where locked 22 all.
The Raider crowd wouldn't know at the moment but that would be the last time the would have much to cheer about until late in the 4th. Essex would let the Raiders know it was time for basketball by going on a 38-0 run starting with Hammond going in for a 17 yard run. Banks would run in for the conversion and Essex would be up 30-22 with 6:06 to go in the 3rd.
In less than 3 minutes later, Day would get his 3rd touchdown from 5 yards out and then his fourth at the beginning of the 4th from 1 yard out.
Banks would get into the action with a 4 yard run. Ball would catch a pass on the conversion from Hammond to make it 54-22 with 8:26 remaining in the game. Hammond would show some defensive greatness as his would recover a fumbled option pitch and when Rappahannock got the ball back Hammond would get an interception and return it 50 yards for Essex final score.
Hammonds big 2nd half gave him 3 total touchdowns including this 50 yard int return.
Gaines would cap off the games final score with a 9 yard scamper to make the final 60-28. Rappahannock had a good season and will try to reload from losing 11 seniors. The Raiders finished 9-4 for Coach William West.
The Trojans (12-1) meet up with a familiar opponent in Riverheads (13-0) on Saturday that should be very exciting. Riverheads has a potent defense that held Sussex Central to negative 12 yards total Friday night. The Gladiators are looking for their 5 consecutive trip to Salem and their 4th state title in a row. Kick-off is expected to be 1pm in Greenville.
Coach Todd Jones was drenched with ice water as the Trojans capture the Region A title!
RAPPAHANNOCK 7 7 8 6 - 28
ESSEX 0 14 24 22 - 60
R- West 7 yard pass from Gaines (Edward Headley kick)
E- Day 1 yard run (Day run)
E- Day 14 yard run (run failed)
R- West 85 yard pass from Gaines (Headley kick)
E- Hammond 15 yard run (Day run)
R- Parker 46 yard pass from Gaines (Gaines run)
E- Hammond 17 yard run (Banks run)
E- Day 5 yard run (Hammond run)
E- Day 1 yard run (Day run)
E- Banks 4 yard run (Ball pass from Hammond)
E- Hammond 50 yard interception return (kick failed)
