Coach Todd Jones group answered the question whether they had reloaded loud and clear.
TAPPAHANNOCK- Two strong opponents going up against each other gave plenty of thrills and several miscues you typically see in an opener with the most experienced team having the least number of them making the difference. Both Sussex Central and Essex came in with question marks on what will move them and make them contenders. Much more insight was displayed tonight and the results are promising.
Sussex Central wasted no time getting things going as on their first possession a loud home crowd was momentarily silenced as Imir Clark broke loose and outraced the Trojan defense for a 65 yard touchdown. Jaylin Prosise would cash in the two-point conversion as the Tigers led 8-0 with only 10 seconds off the game clock.
The Tigers would give Essex a short field with a squibbed kick that was recovered by the Trojans. Essex was trying to connect on a slant when sophomore Tyson Garrett would make a great play getting the interception that gave Sussex Central a chance to be in control. What would happen on the next series would be a key turning point in the quarter.
The offense for the Tigers would go to the air and would not be able to connect on 1st down, stopped for a loss on 2nd, and would have their 3rd down pass incomplete. Sussex Central would bring out their punt team for the first and only time as a high snap to Malik Chambliss would make the punt hard to gather and the Trojan defense would tackle Chambliss setting the Trojans up deep in Tiger territory.
Ashton Ashlock would make sure the Trojans swing that momentum and Ah-kaliq Martin would leak down the field unnoticed on a seam to the endzone. Ashlock would hit Martin perfectly in stride and the catch was equally as good. Essex would not get the 2 points as the score was 8-6 the Tigers with 9:21 left in the 1st.
Sussex Central would have their drive stall at the Essex 31 yard line and soon after the projected top passing team in Region A validated that honor as Ashlock would find Takeyo Day for a 54 yard touchdown connection. Ashlock would stroll in for the conversion as Essex led 14-6 with 6:11 to play in the first.
Following a Tiger fumble and some dazzling runs by Tahraun Hammond, Essex looked to break the game open but Tyree Rose would make a big interception killing the threat and the quarter would end with the Trojans up a touchdown.
Tahraun Hammond made some devastating cuts and should be huge for the Trojans this season.
Essex would answer early in the 2nd quarter with Avante Banks scoring from 14 yards out to give the Trojans a 20-8 lead with 9:09 in the 2nd quarter. Sussex Central would fumble with 56 seconds before halftime but the Trojan drive was stopped cold again with an interception by Rose. Essex would take a 12 point lead into halftime.
In the 3rd, Hammond would find the endzone from 15 yards out to give Essex a 26-8 lead. The Tigers answered back quickly sticking to their ground game as Rose would run the option to perfection going in from 21 yards out. Prosise would do the honors again on the 2-point conversion making it a 26-16 game.
Tyree Rose showed got 2 rushing touchdowns to match his two interceptions on the night.
The momentum appeared to be changing after the Tiger defense held the Trojans on a key defensive stand but as quickly as "mo" came, it left. Sussex Central would fumble and give the Trojans the ball on the Tiger 27. Emotions would hurt the Tigers as an unsportsmanlike penalty gave the Trojans new life on a dead drive. Beginning in the 4th, Ashlock would go in from 7 yards out. LaMonte Roane would get the very important conversion as Essex would lead 34-16 at the 11:55 mark of the 4th.
There would be no quit in the Tigers as following a big strong run by Clark would set up a 4 yard scamper by Rose. Prosise would go in for his 3rd two-point conversion to make it 34-24 Essex. The offense of Essex knew that the next drive would be big. The passing attack of the Trojans looked to the projected top receiver to ice the game.
Senior Avante Banks showed why he is the projected top receiver for Region A.
Banks would hit the defender with the stop and go set up all night by several hitches. The catch would be made by Banks and after gaining a step it would be wrap as he would race down the visitors sideline for a 60 yard touchdown reception with 6:01 left in the game. Essex would go on for the victory winning 42-24.
Essex (1-0) will travel south to Surry County (0-1) Friday. Sussex Central (0-1) will next week host Lancaster for the Red Devils season opener.
SUSSEX CENTRAL 8 0 8 8 - 24
ESSEX 14 6 6 16 - 42
SC- Clark 65-yard run (Prosise run)
E- Martin 23-yard pass from Ashlock (pass failed)
E- Day 54-yard pass from Ashlock (Ashlock run)
E- Banks 14-yard run (run failed)
E- Hammond 15-yard run (run failed)
SC- Rose 21-yard run (Prosise run)
E- Ashlock 7-yard run (Roane run)
SC- Rose 4-yard run (Prosise run)
E- Banks 60-yard pass from Ashlock (Roane run)
KING WILLIAM 53 PRINCE EDWARD 0
The Cavaliers returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in the 1st quarter, along with a 10 yard run by Desmond Claiborne, and Winston Jackson catching a 35 yard touchdown from Lance Alphonso to a 32-0 lead. King William would coast the rest of the way getting another run from Claiborne, Jalen Young, and Corey Stewart. King William (1-0) will host Bruton on Friday.
KING WILLIAM 32 7 7 7 - 53
PRINCE EDWARD 0 0 0 0 - 0
KW- Claiborne 10-yard run (Jayveon Robinson run)
KW- Peyton Rosso 60-yard fumble return (Robinson run)
KW- Robinson 30-yard fumble return (Stewart run)
KW- Jackson 35-yard pass from Alfonso (Kyle Lynch pass from Robinson)
KW- Claiborne 3-yard run (Lynch kick)
KW- Young 2-yard run (Lynch kick)
KW- Stewart 11-yard run (Lynch kick)
KING & QUEEN 36 BLESSED SACRAMENT 20
Malik Holmes set a school record throwing 5 touchdowns and 401 yards as the Royal Tigers start off the much anticipated season with a victory. DeAndre Hill caught 3 touchdowns for 185 yards and Dre Berry had 3 grabs for 128 yards 2 touchdowns on the night. King & Queen had 552 total yards on the night. King & Queen faces a big game of the most improved teams when they visit Windsor next week.
BLESSED SACRAMENT 0 10 3 7 - 20
KING & QUEEN CENTRAL 18 0 6 12 - 36
KQ- Hill 55 yard pass from Holmes (kick failed)
KQ- D. Berry 58 yard pass from Holmes (kick failed)
KQ- Hill 53 yard pass from Holmes (run failed)
BS- Newton 46 yard pass from Parker (Hawkins kick)
BS- Hawkins 30 yard fg
BS- Hawkins 27 yard fg
KQ- Hill 58 yard pass from Holmes (run failed)
KQ- Holmes 4 yard run (run failed)
BS- Parker 5 yard run (Hawkins kick)
KQ- D. Berry 45 yard pass from Holmes (run failed)
RIVERHEADS 49 WASHINGTON & LEE 15
The defending champions jumped out to a 21-0 lead when Craig Sheperd would score for the Eagles making it 21-7. Zac Smiley would answer to keep the distance out of reach allowing the Gladiators to take care business. Riverheads rushed for 382 yards on the night and threw an incompletion on their only pass attempt. Washington & Lee travels to West Point next week while hosts Glenvar.
Altavista 28 Central Lunenburg 8
Arcadia 51 Northampton 0
Colonial Beach 67 Charles City 0
Greensville County 44 Weldon (NC) 22
Gretna 46 Brunswick 8 (Thurs)
John Marshall 14 Bluestone 0
Middlesex 33 Mathews 9
Northumberland 48 Surry County 31
Poquoson 42 Southampton 6
Rappahannock 59 Nandua 21
Thomas Jefferson 48 Colonial Heights 6
West Point 42 Rappahannock County 13
William Campbell 28 Staunton River 10
Windsor 51 Chincoteague 21 (Thurs)
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