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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.
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.

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

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Boy, did Warwick need that or what? The Phoebus assistant coaches are livid here in the pressbox that they kicked to the explosive No. 4, Julio Carrecter. Earlier in his prep career, Carrecter once played for the Phantoms.

Now to make this even more ironic and wild - - the guy wearing No. 7 for Phoebus, Tyree Diggs, nearly runs that kickoff back to the house before losing his footing at the 45. Diggs used to play at Warwick and is now with the Phantoms.

It's two-minute drill operating time for the Phoebus offense.

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.
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