Every team in the area has now played at least five games and as the race for the playoffs heat, we are getting some fantastic performances week in and week out. Here are those who excelled this week in the Richmond Region.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Run Gamers
Eric Finney, Thomas Dale
Neither Finney nor the Knights are strangers to this list but both got it done on Friday night against Prince George. Finney visited the endzone four times on Friday night accounting for 24 of the 49 points the Knights put up. Excuse the pun but at nights end, Finney had rushed for 247 yards on 22 carries as the run game got it done for the Knights in a 49-30 win over the Royals.
Stephen Mines, LC Bird
Mines has become a staple of this list this year and even though the Skyhawks saw their win streak come to an end, Mines shined in the run game. 262 yards on the ground for the Skyhawks against a tough Lake Taylor team on 33 carries is quite the load but what we have come to expect from the Skyhawks backs. Mines touched the endzone twice scoring two of the Skyhawks three touchdowns.
Marcus Bazala, Hanover
True Marcus Bazala is a quarterback, or at least right now while Clayton Cheatham recovers from injury but on Friday night, much of his damage came in the ground game as opposed to the passing game. On Friday night, despite a loss, Bazala rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries which comes to about 6 yards per carry. The real kicker is that all three of the Hawks touchdowns came from Bazala as he scored the first touchdown of the night for either team and two late touchdowns as the Hawks tried to rally back. Bazala certainly showed he can carry the load for the Hawks.
Passing Gamers
Rashard Harris, Atlee
The Raiders needed a big win after their loss to Henrico a week ago and they got it on Friday night and Harris played a big part in the victory. Harris completed 71% of his 32 passes on Friday night on his way to 200 yards in the air. It also did not hurt that he threw two touchdowns a week after the Raiders were unable to get any offensive touchdown. Harris is a big reason why the Raiders are now 4-1.
Malaki Gurley, Prince George
The Royals dropped their second straight game on Friday night but even in defeat quarterback Malaki Gurley had a big night throwing the ball. On Friday night Malaki threw just one touchdown pass and only completed 15 of 38 passes but those that he did complete accounted for 245 yards in the air! That is roughly 16 yards per completion. Not a bad night, even if it didn't end with the W.
Juwan Carter, Highland Springs
The Springers just keep winning and Friday night was no different. In victory, the Springers quarterback threw two touchdowns and completed 66% of his 15 passes for 152 yards total in the air. Juwan continues to get it done for the Springers and the Springers continue to get it done on the field.
Receiving Gamers
Nygel Lee, James River
With 56 yards receiving and two touchdowns Friday night for the Rapids, James River scored a 42-14 win over Huguenot. Lee scored on two 14-yard touchdown passes from Cameron Green. His first touchdown was the first of the second half and his second came after Huguenot scored their first points of the night. Lee certainly had a hand in the 42-14 win over Huguenot.
Mason Kosco, Manchester
Mason makes the list for the second time this season as he comes through for the Lancers in a rout of the Midlothian Trojans 51-7. The game was in hand in the third quarter up 28-0 when quarterback Daniel Rose hit Mason with a 75-yard touchdown pass. Mason and Rose getting it done for the Lancers.
Christian Redman, James River
For a second straight week Redman makes the list for the Rapids. Christian cashed in on a 69-yard touchdown in the first quarter as the Rapids would score 14 in the first quarter of play. Redman would tack on 13 additional yards in the game to bring his total to 82 yards through the air catching two passes from Cameron Green as the Rapids rolled to a 42-14 victory over Huguenot.
Defensive Gamers
Andre Booker, Manchester
The future JMU Duke had a big game for his Lancers on defense Friday night in a 51-7 win over Midlothian. Booker came up with six touchdowns for the Lancers, three of which were for losses. He also had three sacks on Midlothian's quarterback as the Trojans found it difficult to get anything going on offense against the Manchester D.
Tahlik Banks, JR Tucker
The Tucker Tigers got their second win of the season on Friday night as the Tigers beat Thomas Jefferson. The Tigers defense was as much to credit for the win as the offense and one such player on defense was Tahlik Banks. Friday night Banks recorded seven tackles against the Vikings including one sack and a forced fumble. That is not a bad night on defense by any stretch of the imagination.
Chris DeBerry, Hermitage
Another week, another Panther defender on the list, this week that honor belongs to Chris DeBerry. On Friday night in a shutout of the Patrick Henry Patriots, DeBerry made his presence known repeatedly. Not only did DeBerry have six tackles, one of which was for a loss but he also came up with a fumble recovery as the Panthers win 38-0 over the Patriots..
Special Teams Gamers
Ethan Ratke, Atlee
One could make a case that without Ratke's performance on Friday night, Atlee might not have won. Ratke accounted for nine points in their 27-20 win over rival Hanover. Ratke came through with two field goals and three PAT's. The field goals prove most crucial in the second quarter with the game tied. Special teams comes through for the Raiders in a big way.
JJ Givens, Atlee
Givens is making a name for himself at Atlee and in the Richmond Region and he didn't disappoint on Friday night. With the Raiders up just 13-7 at the start of the second half, Givens came through with a huge 90-yard kickoff return to give the Raiders a 20-7 lead as the Raiders looked to take firm control of this game.
Malik VanBrussel, JR Tucker
Malik is the quarterback of the Tigers but he is much more for the Tigers than just the quarterback playing multiple roles including special teams. On Friday night Malik showed what he can do on special teams with his speed when he busted off an 80-yard punt return against the Vikings. The touchdown could not have come at a better time with the Tigers up 8-6 in the third quarter, the Tigers would go on to win 28-6
All-Puprose Gamers
DeShaun Waller, Armstrong
It was big and historic night for the Armstrong Wildcats in their 46-24 win over Varina Friday night. DeShaun Waller had as big a role as anyone in the win. On Friday night, he got it done throwing the ball, rushing the ball and on defense. On defense, Waller had three tackles but the real damage was on offense for Waller. Waller came up with 123 yards on the ground but no touchdowns on the ground, his touchdowns came in the air throwing two touchdowns while amassing 116 yards. All total, Waller had 239 yards of offense and two touchdowns. Not a bad night for Waller or the Wildcats.
Nigel Chavis, Armstrong
Chavis was a force in the run game and defense for the Wildcats in their historic win on Friday night. In the run game, Chavis carried the ball 13 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats kept attacking the Varina defense. On defense, Chavis was a monster recording seven tackles, 1 sack and two fumble recoveries, one of which Chavis returned for a touchdown. Chavis continues to help his team reach new heights this season.
Taj Conway, JR Tucker
Conway came through for the Tigers in their second win of the season Friday night with a great defensive game and a pretty good receiving game as well. Conway came away with 101 yards receiving from his quarterback but he came away with no touchdowns. On defense his presence was surely felt with eight tackles and a safety on the Vikings.
EXTRA POINTS
If you feel there is a player worthy of the Richmond Gamers, please nominate them via e-mail, CRF4Dan@aol.com or tweeting me @CRF4Dan on twitter. You may also nominate on VirginiaPreps.com of course.
This post was edited on 10/7 8:17 PM by CRF4Dan
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Run Gamers
Eric Finney, Thomas Dale
Neither Finney nor the Knights are strangers to this list but both got it done on Friday night against Prince George. Finney visited the endzone four times on Friday night accounting for 24 of the 49 points the Knights put up. Excuse the pun but at nights end, Finney had rushed for 247 yards on 22 carries as the run game got it done for the Knights in a 49-30 win over the Royals.
Stephen Mines, LC Bird
Mines has become a staple of this list this year and even though the Skyhawks saw their win streak come to an end, Mines shined in the run game. 262 yards on the ground for the Skyhawks against a tough Lake Taylor team on 33 carries is quite the load but what we have come to expect from the Skyhawks backs. Mines touched the endzone twice scoring two of the Skyhawks three touchdowns.
Marcus Bazala, Hanover
True Marcus Bazala is a quarterback, or at least right now while Clayton Cheatham recovers from injury but on Friday night, much of his damage came in the ground game as opposed to the passing game. On Friday night, despite a loss, Bazala rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries which comes to about 6 yards per carry. The real kicker is that all three of the Hawks touchdowns came from Bazala as he scored the first touchdown of the night for either team and two late touchdowns as the Hawks tried to rally back. Bazala certainly showed he can carry the load for the Hawks.
Passing Gamers
Rashard Harris, Atlee
The Raiders needed a big win after their loss to Henrico a week ago and they got it on Friday night and Harris played a big part in the victory. Harris completed 71% of his 32 passes on Friday night on his way to 200 yards in the air. It also did not hurt that he threw two touchdowns a week after the Raiders were unable to get any offensive touchdown. Harris is a big reason why the Raiders are now 4-1.
Malaki Gurley, Prince George
The Royals dropped their second straight game on Friday night but even in defeat quarterback Malaki Gurley had a big night throwing the ball. On Friday night Malaki threw just one touchdown pass and only completed 15 of 38 passes but those that he did complete accounted for 245 yards in the air! That is roughly 16 yards per completion. Not a bad night, even if it didn't end with the W.
Juwan Carter, Highland Springs
The Springers just keep winning and Friday night was no different. In victory, the Springers quarterback threw two touchdowns and completed 66% of his 15 passes for 152 yards total in the air. Juwan continues to get it done for the Springers and the Springers continue to get it done on the field.
Receiving Gamers
Nygel Lee, James River
With 56 yards receiving and two touchdowns Friday night for the Rapids, James River scored a 42-14 win over Huguenot. Lee scored on two 14-yard touchdown passes from Cameron Green. His first touchdown was the first of the second half and his second came after Huguenot scored their first points of the night. Lee certainly had a hand in the 42-14 win over Huguenot.
Mason Kosco, Manchester
Mason makes the list for the second time this season as he comes through for the Lancers in a rout of the Midlothian Trojans 51-7. The game was in hand in the third quarter up 28-0 when quarterback Daniel Rose hit Mason with a 75-yard touchdown pass. Mason and Rose getting it done for the Lancers.
Christian Redman, James River
For a second straight week Redman makes the list for the Rapids. Christian cashed in on a 69-yard touchdown in the first quarter as the Rapids would score 14 in the first quarter of play. Redman would tack on 13 additional yards in the game to bring his total to 82 yards through the air catching two passes from Cameron Green as the Rapids rolled to a 42-14 victory over Huguenot.
Defensive Gamers
Andre Booker, Manchester
The future JMU Duke had a big game for his Lancers on defense Friday night in a 51-7 win over Midlothian. Booker came up with six touchdowns for the Lancers, three of which were for losses. He also had three sacks on Midlothian's quarterback as the Trojans found it difficult to get anything going on offense against the Manchester D.
Tahlik Banks, JR Tucker
The Tucker Tigers got their second win of the season on Friday night as the Tigers beat Thomas Jefferson. The Tigers defense was as much to credit for the win as the offense and one such player on defense was Tahlik Banks. Friday night Banks recorded seven tackles against the Vikings including one sack and a forced fumble. That is not a bad night on defense by any stretch of the imagination.
Chris DeBerry, Hermitage
Another week, another Panther defender on the list, this week that honor belongs to Chris DeBerry. On Friday night in a shutout of the Patrick Henry Patriots, DeBerry made his presence known repeatedly. Not only did DeBerry have six tackles, one of which was for a loss but he also came up with a fumble recovery as the Panthers win 38-0 over the Patriots..
Special Teams Gamers
Ethan Ratke, Atlee
One could make a case that without Ratke's performance on Friday night, Atlee might not have won. Ratke accounted for nine points in their 27-20 win over rival Hanover. Ratke came through with two field goals and three PAT's. The field goals prove most crucial in the second quarter with the game tied. Special teams comes through for the Raiders in a big way.
JJ Givens, Atlee
Givens is making a name for himself at Atlee and in the Richmond Region and he didn't disappoint on Friday night. With the Raiders up just 13-7 at the start of the second half, Givens came through with a huge 90-yard kickoff return to give the Raiders a 20-7 lead as the Raiders looked to take firm control of this game.
Malik VanBrussel, JR Tucker
Malik is the quarterback of the Tigers but he is much more for the Tigers than just the quarterback playing multiple roles including special teams. On Friday night Malik showed what he can do on special teams with his speed when he busted off an 80-yard punt return against the Vikings. The touchdown could not have come at a better time with the Tigers up 8-6 in the third quarter, the Tigers would go on to win 28-6
All-Puprose Gamers
DeShaun Waller, Armstrong
It was big and historic night for the Armstrong Wildcats in their 46-24 win over Varina Friday night. DeShaun Waller had as big a role as anyone in the win. On Friday night, he got it done throwing the ball, rushing the ball and on defense. On defense, Waller had three tackles but the real damage was on offense for Waller. Waller came up with 123 yards on the ground but no touchdowns on the ground, his touchdowns came in the air throwing two touchdowns while amassing 116 yards. All total, Waller had 239 yards of offense and two touchdowns. Not a bad night for Waller or the Wildcats.
Nigel Chavis, Armstrong
Chavis was a force in the run game and defense for the Wildcats in their historic win on Friday night. In the run game, Chavis carried the ball 13 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats kept attacking the Varina defense. On defense, Chavis was a monster recording seven tackles, 1 sack and two fumble recoveries, one of which Chavis returned for a touchdown. Chavis continues to help his team reach new heights this season.
Taj Conway, JR Tucker
Conway came through for the Tigers in their second win of the season Friday night with a great defensive game and a pretty good receiving game as well. Conway came away with 101 yards receiving from his quarterback but he came away with no touchdowns. On defense his presence was surely felt with eight tackles and a safety on the Vikings.
EXTRA POINTS
If you feel there is a player worthy of the Richmond Gamers, please nominate them via e-mail, CRF4Dan@aol.com or tweeting me @CRF4Dan on twitter. You may also nominate on VirginiaPreps.com of course.
This post was edited on 10/7 8:17 PM by CRF4Dan
