I love your insight every week @DinwiddieProud
Awesome to see pulls from all across the state.

Warwick gains 2 with QB Saeed Williams Jr. on 2nd & Goal to create 3rd & Goal from the Phoebus 2, but then Dior Hatchett and Kaleb Tillery drop him for a loss of 5, in part because a low snap from shotgun never gave him a chance to get outside.

Out comes the kicking unit, which is a wise decision to take the points in my opinion...

14-10 Phoebjs
3:21 3rd quarter

A bad snap goes flying backwards, where the Phoebus punter just downs it at his own 18-yard line.

It's now a golden opportunity for Warwick, with 6:11 to go in the third quarter, and in the red zone for the first time today against the Phantoms defense. After an incomplete pass, the Raiders keep it on the ground with Cam Glenn, gaining three as he's tripped up by two-way lineman stud Markus Hopson.

A heady scramble on 3rd & 10 by Saeed Williams Jr. as he gains 11 yards to the far sideline, alertly finding the sticks. Warwick decides to go unbalanced from a formation standpoint and Glenn powers ahead for 3 to the 4-yard line.

Warwick burns its second time-out of the half with 4:45 to go in the third period, facing 2nd & Goal. At this point, inside the 5, it feels like Warwick will probably go for it if they have to on fourth down, barring any negative play on either third or fourth down as opposed to trying the field goal to pull within 14-10.

To me, you play power, big boy football with that large o-line and running the rock.

Demari Carter RIDICULOUS catch. Varina 14-6. 6 minutes 2nd quarter.

Wyche to Anderson 45 yard TD. Varina definitely has a kicking problem. Lining up to go for 2 after the timeout.

Fairlawncat said:

Union is 7-3. Sky is falling completely. Not so fast my friend. A 7-3 Union will beat Graham in the region and win the semi game, and then play for the stste championship.

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While I agree the talent is there to do just that, I don't have the same confidence in the play calling. The coaches will have to make some changes.

Special teams literally going to be the death of us smh

Noah Jefferson isn't a blazer out at receiver, but he does move well and was patient after the catch to navigate his way for 10 yards on the reception from QB Maurikus Banks. Nice look out of that trips left formation to the near side.

Runs of +2 and +5 by Davion Roberts brings up 3rd & 7 at their own 47 for Phoebus. The shotgun snap comes to Banks and he's dropped for a loss by Warwick LB Xavier Carter on what looked to be some type of read option play. The blocking up front broke down too quickly for the QB to make something happen. It's only a loss of 1, but the Phantoms will be punting it away after a time-out is called by the Raiders with 6:17 to go in the third quarter.

Big 40 yard run by HSHS. But Varina defense holds strong. Springers can't throw the ball gets a long field goal. 6-6 mid 2nd.

Faced with 3rd & 18 from the Phoebus 43, triggerman Saeed Williams Jr. of Warwick is unabel to connect along the sideline with Julio Carrecter, who came up limping on the play. Can't quite tell what the injury is, but the Raiders are now punting it back to Phoebus, hoping to pin them inside their own 15.

The punt is not that good at all bt the Raiders, sailing out of bounds as it got hung up on the wind for just 13 yards to the PHS 30. That's where the Phantoms take over with a 14-7 lead with 8:46 to go in the third quarter.

Warwick begins with the football to start the third quarter at their own 39. Quarterback Saeed Williams Jr. hits Amari Levisy on a stop route that gains six yards. On 2nd & 4, it's RB Cameron Glenn running through the pile to move the chains to the Phoebus 49.

Williams on the QB keeper gains 4 more, but has to come out for the next play because his helmet pops off. That takes the pass element out of the equation for second down, where Glenn gains just one. However, Williams returns for 3rd & 5 and runs with confidence for + 9 to the Phoebus 35.

A 35-yard TD run by Cam Glenn will come back on a holding penalty. That pushes the Raiders back to the 45 of the Phantoms.

Coach Corey Hairston knows how pivotal is to get points out of this series, whether it's a TD or a field goal. Preferably, he'd like the first one to have a shot at tying this score up in the period.

6-3 Varina end 1st. Varina defense in total control. Springers set up to punt.

Stats at the Half:

Phoebus 14:
Maurikus Banks - 12-16 for 119Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 5Car. 42Yds.
Davion Roberts - 9Car. 24Yds; 2Rec. 22Yds.
Romeir Smith - 3Rec. 45Yds. TD
Trenton Mitchell - 2Rec. 19Yds; 3Car. 11Yds; 4 Tackles, 0.5 TFL
Noah Jefferson - 2Rec. 18Yds.
Tyree Diggs - 2Rec. 8Yds.
Brenden Thompson - 4 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, INT
Kaleb Tillery - INT

Phantoms - 34 plays for 197 total yards (12-16 for 119 yards passing; 18 rushes for 78 yards); 4 penalties for 30 yards; 0 turnovers


Warwick 7:
Saeed Williams Jr. - 5-11 for 31Yds. 0-2 TD/Int. ratio; 7Car. 18Yds.
Julio Carrecter - 1Rec. 12Yds.
Dakota Brodus - 1Rec. 10Yds.
Keon Batts - 2Rec. 8Yds.
Cameron Glenn - 2Car. 21Yds.
I'Ziah Emery - 8 Tackles (6 Solo)
Xavier Carter - 6 Tackles (5 Solo)

Raiders - 21 plays for 72 total yards (5-11 for 31 yards passing, 2 intercepts; 10 rushes for 41 yards); 6 penalties for 45 yards; 2 turnovers

Yeah maxpreps has Orange by 3

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Stats coming in a bit....

Phoebus has seemingly been in control with superb linebacker play + nice passing from QB Maurikus Banks in moving the ball quite well on offense, but a couple of special teams breakdowns have plagued them thus far, otherwise they'd be ahad by more than 7. And Warwick gets the ball to begin the 2nd half.

Wyche BOMB to Demari Carter. 40 yard td. Varina 6-3. Late 1st.

OCBoy said:

Add Galax/Essex at King George too

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Yes. That was the year Galax had the Spurlin kid. One of the most hard nosed players I've ever seen at the high school level

This game has been ugly at times, but its because these teams are loaded with talent. Have thoroughly enjoyed the first half.

Confusion by the Varina offense leads to a Springer interception and 30 yard return. Springer ball at the Varina 5.

Running out of time, the Phantoms get a completion over the middle to WR Noah Jefferson for 12 yards. Referee spots the ball and Phoebus is able to spike it with about two seconds left to run out the kicker for a field goal try.

Phoebus is off to a nice start with this two-minute drill, getting completions from QB Maurikus Banks to Delaware commit Noah Jefferson for 6 and then one for 7 yards to Tyree Diggs. Davion Roberts runs for 8 down to the Warwick 34 with 1:13 to go in the first half.

The Phantoms go for the gusto - - a pass in the end zone that is deflected and amazingly caught by Romeir Smih for a touchdown... BUT...

After the celebrating is done, the Phantoms realize it's a holding penalty that wipes out the score. Huge break for the visiting Raiders.

Banks scrambles for 6 and then Mhakyi Hill hauls in a 7-yard pass on 3rd & 6 to move the chains. Now, the Phantoms are out of time-outs, so they have to continue to act quickly here to get in field goal range or have a shot at the end zone before intermission.

Another completion, this one to Smith after almost getting picked off with Julio Carrecter trying to jump the route, gains 8. Mysteriously to me, Warwick burns a time-out with 33 seconds to go in the half. Not sure why Warwick would use the time-out there because they're helping Phoebus in a sense, indirectly. A dropped pass stops the clock before 3rd & 2 from the 23. The Phantoms move the sticks again with Romeir Smith on a catch for 5.

Following an incomplete, the Phantoms have 2nd & 10 from the 18 of Warwick with 11 seconds to go.

Both defenses with stops to start the game. Varina ball 8 min 1st quarter.

NNDanalyst said:

I was on the 6A board and saw that Cross Bracketing as been approved which means Region A Champ vs Region D Champ and Region B champ vs Region C Champ and the winners will play in the Championship. I couldn't quite tell if that was for all classifications or just Class 6 and 4? It would be nice to see some fresh match ups in 1a State Semifinals. Does anyone know if they are going this route in 1A this year? On the thread in the 6A board it said that 1A was 44 out of 46 in favor of the move.

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I don't think they're doing it this year. I definitely agree that it would be nice to mix it up like they used to. Ive been to state semifinal games where Essex hosted John Battle from Region D, Fort Chiswell from C, and they also played Haysi at King William.