TAPPAHANNOCK- Essex looked to reclaim the Class 1 Region A title as they hosted King & Queen Central who was looking for an accomplishment to validate their rise to an apparent force in Class 1 football. Today however, would not be their day to do that.
After going back and forth with miscues and stalled drives Essex was able to mount a drive late in the 1st quarter where on 3rd and goal from the 3 Dorian Harris would find a huge pathway cleared by his offensive lineman getting him in untouched to make it 7-0 Trojans.
Dorian Harris goes in for the first of 3 of his touchdowns on the day.
That score pushed the Tigers to respond and they when quarterback Malik Holmes would find Jaden Stanley deep along the home sideline where he would get tackled at the 2 yard line. The Trojans defense would hold on all 4 downs as the Tigers failed to gain positive yards.
Following a stop of the Trojans and forcing a short punt, the Tigers were soon back in the redzone looking to tie things up. Essex would force a 4th and goal from the 3 yard line in which the Tigers chose to run and would be denied. No attempts to pass into the endzone would be questioned but they would later make up for this failed drive.
Kam Robinson's touchdown gets called back.
The Trojans looked to deliver a major blow when Tre'Vaughan Ball found Kam Robinson in stride for what appeared to be a 98-yard touchdown pass but the flag had been thrown for illegal formation. Essex then could not find their rhythm on the drive and would be forced to punt out of their endzone again. This time the Tigers would be motivated to turn things around and they did. Pressure up the middle led to a block which went right into the hands of Cameron Graham for the Tiger touchdown to make it 7-7.
Cameron Graham was Johnny on the spot getting the block right in his hand for the touchdown.
The squib attempt would fail for the Tigers as the ball was hit wrong off the tee and would not travel 10 yards. Essex would take the ball in King & Queen territory and Conner Morris would attempt a field goal before the half which would sail wide left keeping the score 7-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Essex special teams would control the quarter. Taylor would block the Tigers punt and would also recover the ball as the Tiger 15. The Trojans looked to be going in for a score but a fumble at their own 1 would give it back to King & Queen.
Essex defense would answer big time forcing the Tigers to punt from deep in the territory right into the hands of Harris. Harris would take the punk 34 yards untouched for the touchdown to give Essex a 14-7 lead with 4:43 left in the 3rd.
On the next possession, the Tigers would cough up the ball at their own 20 yard line. Ball would find Taylor in the endzone for a 18 yard touchdown pass to give Essex a 21-7 lead with 2:28 left in the 3rd.
Dalyn Taylor had a big day including this key touchdown catch in the 3rd.
Following a stalled Tiger drive, Essex would begin to move into Tiger territory but would fumble at the Tiger 41 yard line. King & Queen would respond with Holmes connecting on a perfect pass to Cameron Graham who lost his footing and what ruled down at the 1 yard line. The 3rd time in the redzone would be the charm as Holmes would cash in a yard out to cut the lead to 21-14 with 5:44 left in the game.
The roar of the visiting Tigers were heard throughout and the optimism could be seen in the eyes of all the Tigers as they knew with a defensive stand they could have a chance to right everything that went wrong earlier. That chance however would never come. Just as quick as hope came it vanished with Harris taking the kick-off 67 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14 Essex with 5:29 to play. The Tigers would not have the spirit to muster a response as the inedible had sunken in that the Trojans had reclaimed their crown upon Region A as the 2021 champions.
The Trojans celebrate
Essex (8-1) will now travel to Greenville to face Riverheads (11-0) in the state semi-finals for what is anticipated to be Saturday with a 1pm kick-off. Coach Todd Jones's group has plenty of weapons and would need them all functioning in order to give the defending champions a battle. Riverheads is on a 47-game winning streak which is a VHSL record.
Coach Dylan DeHart are the runner-ups for the 2nd consecutive season in Region A.
Coach Dylan DeHart and the King & Queen Central Tigers (10-2) return a majority of their players next season and will be looking to contend for the Region A title again and possibly more.
K&Q Central 0 7 0 9 - 16
Essex 7 0 14 7 - 28
E- Harris 3 yard run (Morris kick)
KQ- Graham recovered block punt in the endzone (Patricio Carcamo kick)
E- Harris 34 yard punt return (Morris kick)
E- Taylor 18 yard pass from Ball (Morris kick)
KQ- Holmes 1 yard run (Carcamo kick)
E- Harris 67 yard kick-off return (Morris kick)
KQ- Safety-Ball takes knee in the endzone
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After going back and forth with miscues and stalled drives Essex was able to mount a drive late in the 1st quarter where on 3rd and goal from the 3 Dorian Harris would find a huge pathway cleared by his offensive lineman getting him in untouched to make it 7-0 Trojans.
Dorian Harris goes in for the first of 3 of his touchdowns on the day.
That score pushed the Tigers to respond and they when quarterback Malik Holmes would find Jaden Stanley deep along the home sideline where he would get tackled at the 2 yard line. The Trojans defense would hold on all 4 downs as the Tigers failed to gain positive yards.
Following a stop of the Trojans and forcing a short punt, the Tigers were soon back in the redzone looking to tie things up. Essex would force a 4th and goal from the 3 yard line in which the Tigers chose to run and would be denied. No attempts to pass into the endzone would be questioned but they would later make up for this failed drive.
Kam Robinson's touchdown gets called back.
The Trojans looked to deliver a major blow when Tre'Vaughan Ball found Kam Robinson in stride for what appeared to be a 98-yard touchdown pass but the flag had been thrown for illegal formation. Essex then could not find their rhythm on the drive and would be forced to punt out of their endzone again. This time the Tigers would be motivated to turn things around and they did. Pressure up the middle led to a block which went right into the hands of Cameron Graham for the Tiger touchdown to make it 7-7.
Cameron Graham was Johnny on the spot getting the block right in his hand for the touchdown.
The squib attempt would fail for the Tigers as the ball was hit wrong off the tee and would not travel 10 yards. Essex would take the ball in King & Queen territory and Conner Morris would attempt a field goal before the half which would sail wide left keeping the score 7-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Essex special teams would control the quarter. Taylor would block the Tigers punt and would also recover the ball as the Tiger 15. The Trojans looked to be going in for a score but a fumble at their own 1 would give it back to King & Queen.
Essex defense would answer big time forcing the Tigers to punt from deep in the territory right into the hands of Harris. Harris would take the punk 34 yards untouched for the touchdown to give Essex a 14-7 lead with 4:43 left in the 3rd.
On the next possession, the Tigers would cough up the ball at their own 20 yard line. Ball would find Taylor in the endzone for a 18 yard touchdown pass to give Essex a 21-7 lead with 2:28 left in the 3rd.
Dalyn Taylor had a big day including this key touchdown catch in the 3rd.
Following a stalled Tiger drive, Essex would begin to move into Tiger territory but would fumble at the Tiger 41 yard line. King & Queen would respond with Holmes connecting on a perfect pass to Cameron Graham who lost his footing and what ruled down at the 1 yard line. The 3rd time in the redzone would be the charm as Holmes would cash in a yard out to cut the lead to 21-14 with 5:44 left in the game.
The roar of the visiting Tigers were heard throughout and the optimism could be seen in the eyes of all the Tigers as they knew with a defensive stand they could have a chance to right everything that went wrong earlier. That chance however would never come. Just as quick as hope came it vanished with Harris taking the kick-off 67 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14 Essex with 5:29 to play. The Tigers would not have the spirit to muster a response as the inedible had sunken in that the Trojans had reclaimed their crown upon Region A as the 2021 champions.
The Trojans celebrate
Essex (8-1) will now travel to Greenville to face Riverheads (11-0) in the state semi-finals for what is anticipated to be Saturday with a 1pm kick-off. Coach Todd Jones's group has plenty of weapons and would need them all functioning in order to give the defending champions a battle. Riverheads is on a 47-game winning streak which is a VHSL record.
Coach Dylan DeHart are the runner-ups for the 2nd consecutive season in Region A.
Coach Dylan DeHart and the King & Queen Central Tigers (10-2) return a majority of their players next season and will be looking to contend for the Region A title again and possibly more.
K&Q Central 0 7 0 9 - 16
Essex 7 0 14 7 - 28
E- Harris 3 yard run (Morris kick)
KQ- Graham recovered block punt in the endzone (Patricio Carcamo kick)
E- Harris 34 yard punt return (Morris kick)
E- Taylor 18 yard pass from Ball (Morris kick)
KQ- Holmes 1 yard run (Carcamo kick)
E- Harris 67 yard kick-off return (Morris kick)
KQ- Safety-Ball takes knee in the endzone
2021 Region A Championship: K&Q Central vs. Essex
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