Well we had our appetizer and now we are all hungry for the main course… Unfortunately the main course won’t be here till Friday but what an appetizer we had this weekend with high scoring games and an overtime game between two of the top three teams in the area. It was a beautiful night for football and you could tell by the amount of fans that showed up to their respective games and the answer to that Hank Williams Jr. question, “are you ready for some football” was an emphatic yes! If you missed any of the action this week, here is what you missed.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Hermitage 21-20 over Highland Springs In Overtime
For the first time since the early 2000’s these two teams met in the regular season but this game had anything but a regular season feel to it. From the moment you arrived you felt like this game was a playoff game from the excitement from the coaches and players to that of the fans. The game did not disappoint at all. While the Springers had the ball to start the game it was the Panthers who drew first blood when Kaelin Snead intercepted a Springer pass. In fact, the Panthers were up 14-0 nearing the end of the first half but the Springers were not about to let themselves be shutout in the first half and answered back with a touchdown pass from second-year quarterback Juwan Carter. Both teams turned the ball over a couple of times in the first half but both overcame. Flags flew up and down the field on this night, more so against the Panthers and yet both teams overcame. The Springers scored in the second half to tie up the game and it seemed the game was slipping from Hermitage after that early 14-0 lead. Herm’s defense however came up big in the fourth quarter when the Springers faced a 4th & 2 and the Panthers stuffed them at the line. The Panthers got the ball back, moved into field goal position and we have seen the Panthers win many a game with a field goal but that would not be the case on this night. The Springers could breathe as they still had a chance. Highland Springs’ DJ Anderson brought the Springer crowd to life when he punched it in from four yards out for a touchdown in overtime! Unfortunately for the Springers, the PAT was a little low allowing Kaimire Hodge to get in there and block the PAT! The Springers were still in the lead but the Herm sidelines and their fans came to life. You can imagine what happened next… The Panthers score on third down with Jordan Hal carrying the ball into the endzone and the Panthers PAT seals a 21-20 victory! The win is huge for Hermitage, not only do they start the season 1-0 but this win is sure to be a difference maker when it comes to seeding for the playoffs. Furthermore, the Panthers showed they can overcome turnovers, flags and win, never giving up. For Highland Springs it is a tough loss to swallow. To fight back like they did from being 14-0 and lose with a missed PAT. Both teams will be strong contenders this season and be better next week and going forward as you know the saying, your biggest improvements come between the first and second games.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
Huguenot 14-0 over Thomas Jefferson
The past five seasons Huguenot had only mustered one win a season and that was usually against George Wythe. Last year the Falcons made the playoffs at 1-9 but a move to 4A this year means that 1-9 won’t cut it when making the playoffs. Well the Falcons got the message and the experience of their returning starters coupled with a year under their belt together with Coach Jennings equated to a victory for the Falcons in their season opener. It was a night of firsts for the Falcons, their first win of the season, first shutout since 2009 and first season opening win since 2009. How did they do it? Simple, run game and defense, two things the Falcons have lacked in recent years but the direction of the program might be on the upside. For a half of football there was no scoring but in the third quarter Jameko Coleman who finished the game with 14 tackles intercepted a Viking pass and returned it 18 yards to put the Falcons on top where they would remain. For a time it seemed the only scoring would be from the defense but in the fourth Donte Lester scored from one-yard out to and then scored the two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 game. Lester himself finished the game with 142 yards on the ground as the Falcons got a much needed win in their pursuit of making the playoffs for a second straight season. Whether the Falcons can sustain the wins during district play is the great unknown but for now, the Falcons are flying high.
ROUND THE REGION
LC Bird 31-0 over Meadowbrook
In the past, a matchup of these two teams were hotly contested but not so much on this night. The three-time defending state champion Skyhawks, a team thought to be the favorite for the title again shutout a Monarchs team that comes into 2015 with some questions. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before but the Skyhawks like to run and run they did. JB Wright and Shedrick McCall combined for 300 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. Those five touchdowns were all the points the Skyhawks needed with their defense keeping the Monarchs scoreless. It wasn’t all fun and run for the Skyhawks though, Notre Dame-bound Jalen Elliott had a solid night passing but when it came to scoring points, the ground game was where it’s at. Meadowbrook on the other hand struggled to get any kind of offense going which was one of the many questions coming into this season given the departure of quarterback and running back from last season. The biggest improvements they say come from week one to week two and if that’s the case than LC Bird is going to be scary good and Monarch fans shouldn’t panic yet.
Manchester 58-36 over Matoaca
Manchester lost a lot to graduation from last year’s team that did what no Manchester team had done before. So you can understand why everyone but the coaches were apprehensive about the Lancers outlook for the season. The fans and media a like wondered if the Lancers could keep up what they have established but even after the start of the game coaches themselves had to start wondering what this season was going to be like. Two turnovers early was not the start the Lancers had hoped for but before long Brendan Clark and the Lancers offense got to clicking with a touchdown run for Clark as the first points of the season for the Lancers and a touchdown pass as well to give the Lancers a 12-0 lead. Matoaca fought back though keeping it close until the third inning but then the game started to get away from Matoaca. In the fourth quarter however Matoaca came roaring back with three touchdowns, two by Jamison Harrison, one on the ground and the other through the air. The Warriors put up a good show on offense as did both and the future is bright for both but the fact that was very little defense has to be a concern for both going into the rest of the season.
Thomas Dale 30-17 over Cosby
After a scoreless first quarter the Titans drew blood first with a Riley Doyle 1-yard touchdown run and the next time the Titans would score again would be when they are down by 16. The second quarter seemed to be an offensive explosion for the Knights with Matt Lawton throwing three touchdowns, twice to Brian Bullock. The defense for the Knights had a hand in this victory as well with a safety in the second quarter, limiting what the Titans could do on offense and a big night from Sam Stark who has made quite a name for himself at Dale with 11 tackles and one sack. If you’re wondering what happened to Trent Williams, the running back for the Knights? He finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown. Now the Knights must prepare for the “Battle of Chester” and rival LC Bird while Cosby begins the season 0-1.
Dinwiddie 48-34 over James Monroe
Well if you’re a fan of offense this was the game to be at as there was plenty of it, a combined 82 points on this night. The Generals were the first to get on the board with two touchdowns in the first quarter, one on the ground and another in the air. By halftime, the Generals led 28 -14 as the Yellow Jackets scored twice in the second quarter with their own ground game. The Generals offense showed its balance all night long with the ground and air game but the defense obviously was a bit lacking. If not for the two touchdown first quarter the game might have had a different outcome. In the second half the teams tied with the Yellow Jackets scoring the last touchdown of the night when they intercepted a Bryce Witt pass and returned it 15 yards. We all knew the Generals offense had the potential to be great but going into next week against Hanover there has to be concern on defense.
Monacan 48-6 over Caroline
This one should have come as no surprise to anyone although the offensive output might have. The Cavaliers have not exactly been the best of teams over the last few years and we all know what Monacan did last season so this was indeed a bit of a lopsided matchup. The Chiefs scored six touchdowns in the first half before the Cavaliers finally got on the board with a 45-yard touchdown. The Chiefs on the other hand were scoring on the ground, air and even on special teams. Khalik Hamlin had a huge night for Monacan scoring three of his four touchdowns on the ground, the other on a punt return. In the second half the Chiefs defense locked down the Cavaliers offense with a shutout and the Chiefs added another touchdown to grab the 48-6 win. Granted it was against Caroline but a win is a win and clearly Monacan is picking up where they left off last season.
Petersburg 20-12 over Nottoway
The Crimson Wave scored a big victory in their season opener as the Wave took down a Nottoway team that made the state semifinals last season granted they did lose quite a bit from that team. Nottoway did however have a lead in this game, 12-8 over the Wave but Petersburg scored 12 unanswered points to take the lead and the win. Chris Garris and Kadarius Lee combined for over 200 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. That was part of a run game that accumulated 340 yards for Petersburg as that seems to be the focal point of the Wave in 2015 early. The defense did not do so bad themselves with Fred Raspberry with 9 solo tackles and a sack. The defense also did it’s just in keeping Nottoway from scoring as Petersburg completed the comeback. The Wave in 3A is one of those teams you cannot count out and they showed why in this one.
Douglas Freeman 35-7 over Midlothian
The Rebels just win, that’s what they have done since Coach Henderson arrived and in a season where there are some new faces, they still win. The Rebels ran off to a 35-0 win behind special teams, ground and air game. Quarterback Trey Laughlin threw two touchdowns while Jordan Smith and Ja’Kari Williams split the carries on the ground and touchdowns as well with one each. The defense did more than its job shutting out the Trojans for three quarters of play. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Jack Swope got the Trojans their first points of the season on a 21-yard touchdown run. By the time the Trojans did score, it was too little too late. For both teams, if the first game is any indication of how the season will play out, it will be more of what we have come to expect over the previous two seasons.
Armstrong 31-8 over George Wythe
Many questions surrounded the Wildcats as the 2015 season approached. How would they respond after two playoff seasons with the loss of many of those that had a hand in the past two season’s success gone? Well in the short term the answer was, they can still win. The Wildcats beat George Wythe 31-8, a team that has been the worst team in the state over the last decade. So it’s hard to really gauge just how good this Wildcats team might be but a win is a win and that’s what they did on Saturday, win. The Wildcats built a 19-0 lead around a ground game that featured Devonta Jackson who rushed for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bulldogs finally got on the board with a touchdown run in the second quarter but the Wildcats never let up and held onto victory.
EXTRA POINTS
Petersburg’s season opening win was their first in an opener since 2011.
Dinwiddie dating back to last season has allowed 76 points scored against them in their last two games. That’s the most in two combined games since the 2009 season for the Generals.
The Hermitage-Highland Springs overtime game was the earliest the Richmond Region has ever had an overtime game in a season.
First-year coaches were 1-3 in their first game… Who would have thought the one to get their first win would be Armstrong’s coach? Then again given who Matoaca and Meadowbrook faced compared to that of Armstrong, the odds were in Coach Anderson’s favor.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Hermitage 21-20 over Highland Springs In Overtime
For the first time since the early 2000’s these two teams met in the regular season but this game had anything but a regular season feel to it. From the moment you arrived you felt like this game was a playoff game from the excitement from the coaches and players to that of the fans. The game did not disappoint at all. While the Springers had the ball to start the game it was the Panthers who drew first blood when Kaelin Snead intercepted a Springer pass. In fact, the Panthers were up 14-0 nearing the end of the first half but the Springers were not about to let themselves be shutout in the first half and answered back with a touchdown pass from second-year quarterback Juwan Carter. Both teams turned the ball over a couple of times in the first half but both overcame. Flags flew up and down the field on this night, more so against the Panthers and yet both teams overcame. The Springers scored in the second half to tie up the game and it seemed the game was slipping from Hermitage after that early 14-0 lead. Herm’s defense however came up big in the fourth quarter when the Springers faced a 4th & 2 and the Panthers stuffed them at the line. The Panthers got the ball back, moved into field goal position and we have seen the Panthers win many a game with a field goal but that would not be the case on this night. The Springers could breathe as they still had a chance. Highland Springs’ DJ Anderson brought the Springer crowd to life when he punched it in from four yards out for a touchdown in overtime! Unfortunately for the Springers, the PAT was a little low allowing Kaimire Hodge to get in there and block the PAT! The Springers were still in the lead but the Herm sidelines and their fans came to life. You can imagine what happened next… The Panthers score on third down with Jordan Hal carrying the ball into the endzone and the Panthers PAT seals a 21-20 victory! The win is huge for Hermitage, not only do they start the season 1-0 but this win is sure to be a difference maker when it comes to seeding for the playoffs. Furthermore, the Panthers showed they can overcome turnovers, flags and win, never giving up. For Highland Springs it is a tough loss to swallow. To fight back like they did from being 14-0 and lose with a missed PAT. Both teams will be strong contenders this season and be better next week and going forward as you know the saying, your biggest improvements come between the first and second games.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
Huguenot 14-0 over Thomas Jefferson
The past five seasons Huguenot had only mustered one win a season and that was usually against George Wythe. Last year the Falcons made the playoffs at 1-9 but a move to 4A this year means that 1-9 won’t cut it when making the playoffs. Well the Falcons got the message and the experience of their returning starters coupled with a year under their belt together with Coach Jennings equated to a victory for the Falcons in their season opener. It was a night of firsts for the Falcons, their first win of the season, first shutout since 2009 and first season opening win since 2009. How did they do it? Simple, run game and defense, two things the Falcons have lacked in recent years but the direction of the program might be on the upside. For a half of football there was no scoring but in the third quarter Jameko Coleman who finished the game with 14 tackles intercepted a Viking pass and returned it 18 yards to put the Falcons on top where they would remain. For a time it seemed the only scoring would be from the defense but in the fourth Donte Lester scored from one-yard out to and then scored the two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 game. Lester himself finished the game with 142 yards on the ground as the Falcons got a much needed win in their pursuit of making the playoffs for a second straight season. Whether the Falcons can sustain the wins during district play is the great unknown but for now, the Falcons are flying high.
ROUND THE REGION
LC Bird 31-0 over Meadowbrook
In the past, a matchup of these two teams were hotly contested but not so much on this night. The three-time defending state champion Skyhawks, a team thought to be the favorite for the title again shutout a Monarchs team that comes into 2015 with some questions. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before but the Skyhawks like to run and run they did. JB Wright and Shedrick McCall combined for 300 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. Those five touchdowns were all the points the Skyhawks needed with their defense keeping the Monarchs scoreless. It wasn’t all fun and run for the Skyhawks though, Notre Dame-bound Jalen Elliott had a solid night passing but when it came to scoring points, the ground game was where it’s at. Meadowbrook on the other hand struggled to get any kind of offense going which was one of the many questions coming into this season given the departure of quarterback and running back from last season. The biggest improvements they say come from week one to week two and if that’s the case than LC Bird is going to be scary good and Monarch fans shouldn’t panic yet.
Manchester 58-36 over Matoaca
Manchester lost a lot to graduation from last year’s team that did what no Manchester team had done before. So you can understand why everyone but the coaches were apprehensive about the Lancers outlook for the season. The fans and media a like wondered if the Lancers could keep up what they have established but even after the start of the game coaches themselves had to start wondering what this season was going to be like. Two turnovers early was not the start the Lancers had hoped for but before long Brendan Clark and the Lancers offense got to clicking with a touchdown run for Clark as the first points of the season for the Lancers and a touchdown pass as well to give the Lancers a 12-0 lead. Matoaca fought back though keeping it close until the third inning but then the game started to get away from Matoaca. In the fourth quarter however Matoaca came roaring back with three touchdowns, two by Jamison Harrison, one on the ground and the other through the air. The Warriors put up a good show on offense as did both and the future is bright for both but the fact that was very little defense has to be a concern for both going into the rest of the season.
Thomas Dale 30-17 over Cosby
After a scoreless first quarter the Titans drew blood first with a Riley Doyle 1-yard touchdown run and the next time the Titans would score again would be when they are down by 16. The second quarter seemed to be an offensive explosion for the Knights with Matt Lawton throwing three touchdowns, twice to Brian Bullock. The defense for the Knights had a hand in this victory as well with a safety in the second quarter, limiting what the Titans could do on offense and a big night from Sam Stark who has made quite a name for himself at Dale with 11 tackles and one sack. If you’re wondering what happened to Trent Williams, the running back for the Knights? He finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown. Now the Knights must prepare for the “Battle of Chester” and rival LC Bird while Cosby begins the season 0-1.
Dinwiddie 48-34 over James Monroe
Well if you’re a fan of offense this was the game to be at as there was plenty of it, a combined 82 points on this night. The Generals were the first to get on the board with two touchdowns in the first quarter, one on the ground and another in the air. By halftime, the Generals led 28 -14 as the Yellow Jackets scored twice in the second quarter with their own ground game. The Generals offense showed its balance all night long with the ground and air game but the defense obviously was a bit lacking. If not for the two touchdown first quarter the game might have had a different outcome. In the second half the teams tied with the Yellow Jackets scoring the last touchdown of the night when they intercepted a Bryce Witt pass and returned it 15 yards. We all knew the Generals offense had the potential to be great but going into next week against Hanover there has to be concern on defense.
Monacan 48-6 over Caroline
This one should have come as no surprise to anyone although the offensive output might have. The Cavaliers have not exactly been the best of teams over the last few years and we all know what Monacan did last season so this was indeed a bit of a lopsided matchup. The Chiefs scored six touchdowns in the first half before the Cavaliers finally got on the board with a 45-yard touchdown. The Chiefs on the other hand were scoring on the ground, air and even on special teams. Khalik Hamlin had a huge night for Monacan scoring three of his four touchdowns on the ground, the other on a punt return. In the second half the Chiefs defense locked down the Cavaliers offense with a shutout and the Chiefs added another touchdown to grab the 48-6 win. Granted it was against Caroline but a win is a win and clearly Monacan is picking up where they left off last season.
Petersburg 20-12 over Nottoway
The Crimson Wave scored a big victory in their season opener as the Wave took down a Nottoway team that made the state semifinals last season granted they did lose quite a bit from that team. Nottoway did however have a lead in this game, 12-8 over the Wave but Petersburg scored 12 unanswered points to take the lead and the win. Chris Garris and Kadarius Lee combined for over 200 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. That was part of a run game that accumulated 340 yards for Petersburg as that seems to be the focal point of the Wave in 2015 early. The defense did not do so bad themselves with Fred Raspberry with 9 solo tackles and a sack. The defense also did it’s just in keeping Nottoway from scoring as Petersburg completed the comeback. The Wave in 3A is one of those teams you cannot count out and they showed why in this one.
Douglas Freeman 35-7 over Midlothian
The Rebels just win, that’s what they have done since Coach Henderson arrived and in a season where there are some new faces, they still win. The Rebels ran off to a 35-0 win behind special teams, ground and air game. Quarterback Trey Laughlin threw two touchdowns while Jordan Smith and Ja’Kari Williams split the carries on the ground and touchdowns as well with one each. The defense did more than its job shutting out the Trojans for three quarters of play. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Jack Swope got the Trojans their first points of the season on a 21-yard touchdown run. By the time the Trojans did score, it was too little too late. For both teams, if the first game is any indication of how the season will play out, it will be more of what we have come to expect over the previous two seasons.
Armstrong 31-8 over George Wythe
Many questions surrounded the Wildcats as the 2015 season approached. How would they respond after two playoff seasons with the loss of many of those that had a hand in the past two season’s success gone? Well in the short term the answer was, they can still win. The Wildcats beat George Wythe 31-8, a team that has been the worst team in the state over the last decade. So it’s hard to really gauge just how good this Wildcats team might be but a win is a win and that’s what they did on Saturday, win. The Wildcats built a 19-0 lead around a ground game that featured Devonta Jackson who rushed for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bulldogs finally got on the board with a touchdown run in the second quarter but the Wildcats never let up and held onto victory.
EXTRA POINTS
Petersburg’s season opening win was their first in an opener since 2011.
Dinwiddie dating back to last season has allowed 76 points scored against them in their last two games. That’s the most in two combined games since the 2009 season for the Generals.
The Hermitage-Highland Springs overtime game was the earliest the Richmond Region has ever had an overtime game in a season.
First-year coaches were 1-3 in their first game… Who would have thought the one to get their first win would be Armstrong’s coach? Then again given who Matoaca and Meadowbrook faced compared to that of Armstrong, the odds were in Coach Anderson’s favor.
