Moose Lee breaks throw a seam in the Trojans defense for the touchdown.
SALUDA- The Essex Trojans had a home away from home in Middlesex versus the defending state champion Riverheads Gladiators for the right to compete for the state championship in Class 1. Both teams had a plan to make sure they were to advance to Salem but only one would be successful on this late fall afternoon.
Both teams struggled to get things going early as the defenses rose to the occasion as neither could get on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Penalties plagued both squads but mainly the Gladiators who were flagged 6 times in the opening quarter alone. Things would be dramatically different in the 2nd quarter late.
Ashton Ashlock would make a tremendous pass on the home sideline and Delontae Norman would make a spectacular catch between two defenders. Norman even got both feet in giving the game’s first scoring threat. The emotions ran a little high and there was a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct that moved the ball from the Riverheads 8 to the 23. KJ Dameron will race the right side and would get forced out at the 1. After that, Dameron would stretch out over the goal line as the Trojans would go up 7-0 with 5:11 before the half.
The holes were not plentiful but just enough for Dameron and the Trojans early.
The Gladiators would be anxious to respond. Chipping away downfield they would soon stall at the Essex 29. Facing a 4th and long Tyler Smith would run a strong play action fake that would give Devin Morris the step he needed and Smith would do the rest throwing a perfect pass for the touchdown with 0:57 on the clock. The extra point would be good and Riverheads nodded it up at 7-7.
At this moment Essex could elect to run things out and go into the half tied or attempt to go up some more points. They would choose the later. What they didn’t choose was the top Region B defender Blake Smith waiting to strike reading the eyes of Ashlock. Smith would nab an interception and returned it to the 19-yard line. Emotions would boil as another unsportsmanlike penalty moved the ball just outside the Essex 8. With Dalton Jordan momentarily out with a leg injury, Moose Lee came in and bolted into the endzone for the touchdown giving the Gladiators a 14-7 lead with 0:23 left before the half.
Blake Smith eyes and captures his 2nd interception in less than a 1 minute of game play.
After a solid kick return into Riverheads territory by Dameron, Essex would attempt to go and salvage the opportunity to get some points. A pattern called for the normally sure handed Norman would fall incomplete that would have put them in range of Guadalupe Villeda. With only 1 second on the clock, Ashlock would attempt to pass to his right in the vicinity of Blake Smith. The result would be the same, Smith would make an interception and what was discussed as an inadvertent whistle which stopped what Riverheads thought would be a pick six.
Norman couldn't make this catch up high before the half.
A tough one minute that the Trojans gave up 14 points and threw 2 interceptions to the same player. Despite the misfortunes the Essex faithful still believed their guys could turn things around in the 2nd half.
The Trojans could not get their offense rolling and in the 3rd in the quarter. Drives would stall out with loses illustrated by the Riverheads defense. The Gladiators would march 49 yards in 2:44 down to the Essex 3-yard line. Coach Robert Casto weighed the option of going for it but a field goal would be large in a game like this and he was right. Peyton Skillman would nail the 20-yard field goal with ease giving the Gladiators a 17-7 lead with 0:32 left in the quarter.
Essex would get a good run on 1st down to start their possession early in the 4th but would stall out and would be forced to punt. Their defense would rise to the occasion forcing Riverheads to go 3 and out and forced them to punt. Blake Smith could not handle the loose snap and would get tackled at his own 25-yard line with 7:34 left in the game. Coach Todd Jones group had their best opportunity to sway the game quickly with plenty of time to play.
Coach Todd Jones defensive strategy paid off big and kept the Trojans in the game.
After another key catch by Norman, which would get them inside just outside the 10, the Trojans looked ready to bang their way in. The Trojans would cough up the ball at the Riverheads 10 with 6:34 left to play. The turnover drained the Trojans but they still had plenty of fight in them. Riverheads would run the clock down by running the football but on 4th and 15 they would go to the air and Lee would make a catch off a tipped balled by a fallen receiver that would help get a first down to eat more time off the clock.
Riverheads would punt later in the drive giving the Trojans one last opportunity to get back into the game. Ashlock would throw a touchdown pass to Norman from 4-yards out with 38 seconds left to play in the game. 17-14 Riverheads and it would come down to the onside kick. Dameron’s kick would be a squib and the hands team for Riverheads would coral it punching their ticket to Salem.
Riverheads gets the job done outlasting the Trojans done the stretch.
Coach Casto and the Gladiators (11-2) will face off against Chilhowie who came back to defeat Galax 25-21. The championship will be 12noon in Salem in an attempt for Riverheads to go back-to-back. This will be Riverheads third trip in a row to Salem.
Essex (12-2) had a great memorable season in Coach Todd Jones’ return year. Making the state -semis in his first returning season was huge and you can expect the Trojans to be in the mix again next season. The expectations just ended a week prematurely than many had envisioned.
RIVERHEADS 0 14 3 0 - 17
ESSEX 0 7 0 7 - 14
E- Dameron 1-yard run (Villeda kick)
R- Morris 29-yard pass from Tyler Smith (Skillman kick)
R- Lee 8-yard run (Skillman kick)
R- Skillman 20-yard field goal
E- Norman 4-yard pass from Ashlock (Villeda kick)
