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State Semifinals Cross Bracketing Question

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.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

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I'm not sure which was the better play - - the INT by LB Brenden Thompson, where he tipped it in the air to himself and made the play OR the head-tapping TD reception by 6-foot-4, 210-pound wideout Romeir Smith. Earlier, Smith was the player not in on special teams that cost them a time-out. Needless to say, he MORE than made up for it with that highlight-reel TD catch.

It'll be real interesting to see how Warwick responds to this type of deficit, their largest since the Region 5B Finals last year on Thanksgiving weekend to eventual Class 5 State Champ Maury.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

Warwick is starting to figure things out a bit offensively. Cameron Glenn busts off a crucial 15-yard run to get them out of danger area from their own 3 to the 18. Two plays later, it's Julio Carrecter showing off his elusiveness with a 12-yard reception to move the chains again versus this extremely physical and aggressive Phoebus defense. Keon Batts catches a screen to gain six on first down, but a pass over the middle is dropped on 2nd & 4.

Now here is a very big 3rd & 4 play for Warwick, where they cannot avoid a negative play like a sack or turnover.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

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Cam Glenn had gained 6 yards on 2nd & 8, then the Phoebus defense buckled down for both the third down and fourth down plays.

Tell you what - - Brenden Thompson is one of the more ferocious hitters around the entire '757' area code and state for that matter. Watched him unload on a Salem player in a preseason scrimamge last year and he's an All-State performer for a reason. Reminds me of some of the heat seeking missile plays that LoVante' Battle (who went to UVA) used to deliver for the Phoebus Championship defenses around 2008 in that safety / linebacker role.

Warwick's defense appears to force a 3 & out with some good hits from I'Ziah Emery, Jaylen Jordan and company. The Phantoms didn't help themselves with a 5-yard flag to start the series, taking them from the Warwick 46 to their own 49. From there, Davion Roberts didn't get much running room on a pitch and a third down pass was incomplete.

A running into the kicker penalty is thrown. Remember, that's a 5-yarder, not a 15-yarder like roughing that would've resulted in a fresh set of downs on the 4th & 11. Phoebus will decline the penalty because Warwick is at their own 3 now with 4:43 before half-time.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

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Does that miss, along with the stand by the defense forcing the field goal try, give the Raiders a jolt? They really need it on offense to at the very least tilt field position and keep Phoebus from getting the ball back quickly.

After a short gain of 2 on first down, Warwick watches QB Saeed Williams Jr. scramble for 18 yards, but the Raiders got flagged for a helmet to helmet penalty. That 15-yard infraction pushes them back to their own 23 for second down.

Nijay Gay blankets WR Julio Carrecter on the 2nd & 7 play, but the refs throw a flag at the conclusion of it and it's a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct to give the Raiders a fresh set of downs. Short completion to Keon Batts for 2 gets the Raiders to their own 40. Right now, Warwick needs to pick up the pace offensively and see if they can get the Phantoms out of position.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

Phoebus extends the drive, converting the 2nd & 9 play with a screen pass from QB Maurikus Banks to RB Davion Roberts, who now has more receiving yards (22) than rushing yards (12). They stay creative with versatile weapon Trenton Mitchell, who gains 5 on a sweep.

Warwick's defense is really good for a reason and they adjust, stringing out Banks a couple plays later on 3rd & 4 from the 16 for a sack that is registered by Tracy Pope.

Since a player on the special teams unit is not on the field for the 4th & 16 play from the 28, the Phantoms are forced to burn their final time-out of the first half - with 8:54 to go in the second quarter - to avoid a 5-yard delay of game penalty. This field goal is no easy one from 45 yards out, but an important one from Farriss Knight to try to make it a two-score advantage.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

That sophomore QB Maurikus Banks for Phoebus is making things happen with his feet today, breaking off a 9-yard run. That gives him nearly 50 yards rushing on just a few attempts. Compared to last year, the Phantoms look, at least so far, way more solid in blocking this incredibly tough Warwick defensive front.

Coach Jeremy Blunt will use his second time-out, with 1:59 to go in the opening period, before 2nd & 1 from the Warwick 47. Davion Roberts gets 3 yards to move the chains. Then it's Trenton Mitchell for a short gain and no gain on second down because LB's Xavier Carter and I'Ziah Emery bite down without any bodies to have to shed in terms of blockers.

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Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

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Feed those linemen !! And not just pancakes either. Markus Hopson - one of my favorite players to interview by the way - starts at center for the Phantoms and also plays an integral role on defense. That drive right there is without a doubt the best any team has enjoyed on a stout Warwick defense that is allowing just 3.1 points per game this season.

Warwick begins at their own 46 following a 24-yard kickoff return from Julio Carrecter. A run with QB Saeed Williams Jr. only gains a yard as Troy Solomona and LB Kaleb Tillery are right there ready to crunch on defense.

Javyon Overbey make a big hit on the quick screen pass, limiting Warwick to a gain of a yard on 3rd & 8. With pressure coming from Brandon Romero-Jackson on 3rd & 8, the Phantoms flush Williams out of the pocket and Tillery makes a splendid INT along the sideline.

Ball back to Phoebus at their own 44 with 3:01 to go in the opening period, leading 7-0 and with lots of momentum building.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

Sophomore QB Maurikus Banks breaks off a 39-yard run down to the 3 of Warwick and right now the Phantoms are playing with that Championship swagger. It appears that RB Davion Roberts is able to muscle his way in for a 3-yard TD as his helmet is ripped off, but the officials throw a flag, huddled up and say he was not in and they place it at the 1 with a penalty on the Raiders.

Banks looks to sneak it in from a yard out, but another penalty - this time a false start - pushes them back 5. From there, it's Trenton Mitchell running for 5 yards to get them back to that spot. Du'Wuane Skipwith and Jaylen Jordan stop Banks on 2nd & Goal to bring up 3rd & Goal from the 1.

Before the crucial 3rd & Goal play with 4:34 to go in the opening period, it'll be a time-out called by Jeremy Blunt. Remember, Roberts had his helmet came off a few plays ago, but he's now back in for this key play.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

Jaylen Jordan and Cartier Carey eventually tackle Phoebus RB Davion Roberts, but not after a gain of 6. Coach Jeremy Blunt and his staff get creative with Roberts, this time putting him in motion from the receiver spot and use him for a jet sweep that gets up to the 32 for a gain of 6. At the conclusion of the play, a 15-yard penalty on Warwick will push them close to midfield at their own 47.

Roberts then catches a pass in the flat area and rumbles ahead for 11 yards to the Warwick 42. The Phoebus offense looks much crisper on this series with the o-line getting good movement up front as well.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

After an incomplete, Raiders junior QB Saeed Williams Jr. finds big-sized receiving target Dakota Brodus for a gain of 10 through the air to move the sticks. The run game with Williams gets nothing on the next first down from the 34-yard line with a strong hit by corner Nijay Gay, then it's a loss of 1 with LB Brenden Thompson and DB Trenton Mitchell cleaning him up.

Following a 5-yard penalty, Warwick is forced to go to the air on 3rd & 16 from the Phantoms 40. That's where Dior Hatchett breaks up the pass over the middle that's intended for WR Julio Carrecter.

Warwick's punt bounces into the end zone for a touchback, so the Phantoms will have it at their own 20 with 7:39 to go in the first quarter.

Blog LIVE Game Blog - Warwick (9-0) at Phoebus (8-0)

By the way, you can watch this Phoebus / Warwick battle LIVE and archived through our friends at the Hampton Media Network on YouTube at the link below:

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It's Phoebus ball to start at their own 13, but then at their own 8 after a 5-yard penalty. The first run play for Davion Roberts get no gain with a firm hit by Trayshawn Henry, who later makes his presence felt on this opening series.

A quick completion by sophomore QB Maurikus Banks to WR Trenton Mitchell gets 10 back. However, on 3rd & 5, the pass by Banks over the middle to his intended target is jarred loose by Henry. What a start for the 5-8, 171 senior DB.

Phoebus punts it away and Warwick has very fine field position, just how Coach Corey Hairston envisioned it, for their first series at the Phantoms 44 with 10:07 left in this opening period.
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