M.J. Lemke drops back to pass and he's hit as he throws by LB Darryl Veal Jr. The 'ol tuck rule (think Brady's Pats against the Raiders in the snow in January of 2022) has the Kempsville fans upset because it's ruled incomplete, not a fumble.

Cox is trying to get methodical and milk the clock some, but the Kempsville defense is not cooperating with them as a 3rd & 2 run is limited to just a gain of 1. Fourth down time and another decision, this time for Coach Tyler Noe of Cox...

Electing to go for it, Cox sees QB Max Palmerton get stopped behind the line of scrimmage on 4th & 1 from the Kempsville 42 for a loss of 3.

That gives Kempsville the ball at their own 45 with 6:41 to go, trailing by 9. An incomplete pass by C.J. Spence, then a short completion for just a yard to Tyron Kellam, immediately tackled by Jacob Palmerton.

On 3rd & 9, the Chiefs go with trips left and it's another pass attempt. Spence scrambles around and hes intercepted by Max Palmerton, who returns it 18 yards to the KHS 42 with 5:25 to go.

Rye Cove 61
Twin Springs 6
Final

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That Tyre Jefferies TD run will be on the end of season highlight reel for sure. He was able to out-run the defenders trying to catch him with maybe his most impressive scamper of the year. Almost as big was the PAT by kicker Brycen Widhelm.

Lincoln Nicosia then recovers the onside kick that bounces off a Kempsville player, so the Falcons have it back, with the 9-point lead, with 8:27 to go from their own 49.

What a quick turn of events!

Kempsville decided to go for it on fourth down again and this time it's incomplete with the intended receiver slipping during the route.

Cox takes over at their own 48 with 9:00 exactly to play. Tyler Noe's Falcons are known for being conservative, but they need some type of explosive play and it's going to be hard to generate that through the air without a single pass completion tonight - 0 for 3 with an INT.

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Another incomplete pass with the coverage supplied by Kai Reighard of Cox brings up 3rd & 10 for the Kempsville offense. The Chiefs thought they got a huge completion into Cox territory on 3rd & 10, but the officials bring it back on a holding penalty. That's the first flag on Kempsville this half after seven infractions for 54 yards before intermission.

Robert Hughes Jr. rushes for 4 yards to create 4th & 3 from their own 43 with 11 mintues to go and Kempsville is going for it again.

Jahlen Batty makes a clutch grab for 6 yards to move the sticks. They get into Cox territory with a gain of 3 by Warren Powell, who is then halted to no gain and QB C.J. Spence's pass on 3rd & 7 is incomplete. Another decision time for Coach Cherry of Kempsville with 9:05 remaining in regulation.

On a simple stop underneath route that acts like a curl, Sawyer Whitmore hauls in the pass for nine yards from QB C.J. Spence. That sets up 2nd & 1, where another pass is thrown, but this time it's incomplete in the flat area.

Izaque Tomaz and Max Palmerton combine to stop Robert Hughes Jr. for no gain. Kempsville Coach Daryl Cherry boldly leaves the offense out there for 4th & 1 from their own 34 and Spence somehow slips out of a tackle to gain 2. Might've been a face-mask the officials missed, too.

Nasir McCarter, who had a defensive score against Salem for the Cox Falcons, bats down the Spence pass on 1st & 10 to end the third period.

Rye Cove 55
Twin Springs 6
End of 3rd Quarter

Cox gets a great drive starter with Max Palmerton, operating from the QB position and running the read option beautifully, gaining 24 yards up the gut before Antonio Moore makes the TD saving tackle.

Kempsville's defense clamps down and makes it very difficult to move the sticks in short-yardage situations because Tyre Jefferies gets halted for no gain on 2nd & 6 from the Chiefs 40, where Drew Ashbury was in helping make the stop. A pass on 3rd & 6 falls incomplete, bringing out the punting unit again for Cox.

Kempsville takes over at its own 25 with 2:08 to go in the third period after the punt goes out of bounds.

How suddenly the momentum shifted...

Henderson must be coaching them boys up!!

Well this is a shocker

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Superb running - and push up front by the big fellas - to finish that drive off and give Cox a little taste of its own medicine if you will.

Robert Hughes Jr. had 7 rushes for 28 yarsd on that possession alone.

Brand new ballgame in a sense and Cox needs to respond offensively to re-claim momentum.

26-14 Matoaca half. Dinwiddie extremely sloppy and penalty filled 1st half. Matoaca outside of the big plays has been bad also.

2 good teams playing a "bad" but entertaining game to me.

Kempsville is on the move now as Robert Hughes Jr. takes off on runs of +6 and +12 into Cox territory. That 23-yard burst he had late in the first half seems to have gotten him on track against a very sound, disciplined defense.

Additionally, Coach Daryl Cherry told me before the game that he was without three linemen, each of which are contributors on the o-line. So it's taking some time for a couple of the new blockers to adapt.

A completion to Sawyer Whitmore, who has played some QB before, from C.J. Spence, gains 5. They get to a 3rd & 2 from the Cox 31, where Hughes Jr. lowers the shoulder and gains enough to move the sticks.

Anotehr big 3rd & 7 now for the Chiefs moments after an incomplete pass that was almost intercepted by Jacob Palmerton. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Cox after they appeared to get a stop will bring them in the red zone, to the 13-yard line of the Falcons.

AWFUL punt by Matoaca gives Dinwiddie great field position about a minute left in the 2nd. Dinwiddie ball at the about the 10 looking to score before half.

Cox goes 3 & out to begin the 3rd quarter as they started at their own 30, gained a couple with Tyre Jefferies, then a high snap resulted in Max Palmerton being dumped for a loss of 8 by LB Darryl Veal Jr. On 3rd & 16, Jefferies tried to get outside and LB Eli McDaniel was nothing having any of it whatsoever.

So the Falcons punt it away and Kempsville will have it at their own 43 with 9:32 left in the third quarter.

Stats at the Half:

Cox 9:
Tyre Jefferies - 14Car. 60Yds. TD
Max Palmerton - 11Car. 37Yds; 3 Assisted Tackles
Gerald Simmons III - 1Car. 8Yds; 2 Solo Tackles
Nasir McCarter - 3 Tackles, 1.5 TFL
Elias Field - 2 Tackles, INT
Brayden Lyons - Sack

Falcons - 30 plays for 104 total yards (0-2 passing, 1 intercept; 28 rushes for 104 yards); 2 penalties for 15 yards; 1 turnover


Kempsville 0:
C.J. Spence - 1-9 for 14Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 8Car. 1Yd.
Robert Hughes Jr. - 2Car. 23Yds.
Tyron Kellam - 1Rec. 14Yds.
Jason Galloway - 6 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 Sack
Elijah McDaniel - 6 Tackles, 0.5 TFL
Darryl Veal Jr. - 5 Tackles

Chiefs - 20 plasys for 46 total yards (1-9 for 14 yards passing, 1 intercept; 11 rushes for 32 yards); 7 penalties for 54 yards; 1 turnover

Another 50 yard TD by Matoaca. This time an interception return. 26-14 Matoaca late 2nd Q. Bryce Yates making big plays.

Dinwiddie gets a stop late 2nd. Matoaca basically boom or bust on offense so far. If Dinwiddie can stop the penalties I think they pull this off 2nd half.