Blog 3A Finals Game Blog: Phoebus 7, Norcom 6 (3OT)

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Greetings from a soggy Darling Stadium in Hampton. It has been raining all morning long as we get set for the Class 3, Region A Championship with the top-seeded Phoebus Phantoms (11-1) playing host to the third-seeded Norcom Greyhounds (8-4).

Norcom has rebounded from a 0-3 start to win eight of their last nine ballgames. The lone loss in that stretch was to Maury, which stunned the state last night with its 42-21 win over Indian River in the Class 5, Region A title game. The Greyhounds also beat Lake Taylor, who handed Phoebus its lone loss of the year.

Given the field conditions and these being two physical, aggressive defenses going head-to-head, my expectation is a low-scoring ballgame.

Before we get to the kick-off and our updates you can find here as well as on Twitter @ hatfieldsports ... a snipet from our predictions below...


#3 Norcom (8-4) at #1 Phoebus (11-1) . . . Since 2001, the Phantoms and Greyhounds have met five times. Every outcome was in favor of Phoebus, two of them in the playoffs; a 24-20 escape by the Phantoms in the 2011 regional final as well as a 34-0 shutout two years ago.

Norcom is coming off a 14-12 win over Hopewell, the defending State Champs in Class 3 that beat Phoebus in the second round of the playoffs last year, 7-6.

Matt Says: Norcom 13-10
VHSL-Reference.com Says: Phoebus 27-14
Coach Young Says: Phoebus 21-14

 

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It'll be Phoebus ball to start and Caleb Randolph returns the opening kickoff 21 yards, so the Phantoms will start at their own 33. Following a 3-yard run from fullback Kimani Robinson, it's Anthony Turner breaking off a 44-yard run into Norcom territory.

The Norcom defense bites down hard on the run as the Phantoms get in the red zone with Teion Coston, Antwaun Powell-Ryland and company limiting Turner to just 6 yards on his next 3 rushes.

 

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Norcom's defense dodges a bullet to start and now will try to strike first as they begin at their own 20 with 7:58 to go in this opening period.

 

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A couple solid stops from LB Trevon Hayes and DL Austin Gilliam as Phoebus forces Norcom to go 3 & out on its opening possession. What hurt Norcom most was back-to-back plays before even their first snap from scrimmage. That put them in a 1st & 20 hole from their own 10, meaning the Phoebus defense could pin its ears back and come after QB Jacoby Smith.

A 33-yard punt by Norcom will mean Phoebus begins at their own 45-yard line with 6:13 to go in the opening stanza.

 

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On 2nd & 6 from their own 49, Phoebus senses what it's going to be about today and they run off tackle to the left side with sophomore Anthony Turner, who gains 12 yards into Norcom territory at the 39.

But once again, the Nocom defense stiffens.

 

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Norcom moves the chains for the first time on the afternoon when QB Jacoby Smith hits WR Josiah Hayes (transfer from Nansemond River this year) for an 8-yard completion on 3rd & 6, up to their own 35. Demonte Dunlap gains a yard.

The period is over in this defensive struggle.

 

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Norcom's drive fails to produce a second first down. Josiah Silver is disrupting things up front with 3 tackles early and a stop for loss. He's also starting at left tackle for the Phantoms today. On 3rd & 13 from his own 31, QB Jacoby Smith escapes the pressure and picks up 4 yards.

Rashaad Greenidge booms a 54-yard punt for the Greyhounds, so Phoebus will be inside their own 15 for their third possession at the 10:49 mark of the second period.

 

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Phoebus is in the midst of long drive - the 9th play coming up for them with 3rd & 7 at the Norcom 47.

It has been all Anthony Turner running the ball - up the gut, right and left. Turner has carried it on 16 of their first 18 plays from scrimmage. Turner has 103 yards rushing.

On 3rd & 7, QB Chris Daniels keeps it and gains nothing as Kameron Stephenson and Teion Coston clean him up right away.

An 18-yard punt to the 29-yard line of Norcom, where the Greyhounds will begin as it is a monsoon here at Darling with 3:42 before intermission.

 

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A scoring opportunity now for Larry Archie's Greyhounds.

 

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Norcom is now facing 3rd & Goal from the Phoebus 16-yard line with 2:18 before the break as they call time-out.

A bad snap on 1st & Goal from the 5 sails over QB Jacoby Smith's head, resulting in a 10-yard loss. Then it is Smith dropped for a loss of 1 by Domonic Edwards.

Smith throws a nice ball over the middle to Celon Lawrence, who can't quite haul it in for a touchdown. Imagine the ball is so slippery he was unable to get a good handle on it, so the Greyhounds appear to be trotting out their field goal kicker for a 33-yard attempt.

 

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Starting at their own 30 with 2:09 until the break, the Phantoms give the ball to their All-Star wide receiver Barry Hargraves on a sweep that nets 5 yards. On 2nd & 5, it's Anthony Turner stopped for no gain as DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland - who already holds offers from UVA and Virginia Tech and is the younger brother of ex-Greyhounds standout linebacker Demontray Ryland (now an assistant for Norcom) - is right there to stop him cold.

Phoebus will burn a time-out, their final one of the half, with 39 seconds left in this second period before 3rd & 5 from their own 35.

 

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Check that, at the 39-yard line.

The Norcom defense has really made some terrific hits, especially LB Taurus Jones with 9 tackles total by my count (5 solo). He looks the part of a Saturday College Football player.

 

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Some numbers here in a bit...

 

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Some half-time numbers...

Half:

Norcom 0:
Jacoby Smith - 1-5 for 8Yds.
Celon Lawrence - 1Car. 66Yds.
Demonte Dunlap - 3Car. 8Yds.
Josiah Hayes - 1Rec. 8Yds.
Taurus Jones - 9 Tackles (5 Solo)
Antwaun Powell-Ryland - 5 Tackles (4 Solo)

Greyhounds - 16 plays for 67 total yards (1-5 for 8 yards passing; 11 rushes for 59 yards); 0 turnovers; 4 penalties for 35 yards


Phoebus 0:
Anthony Turner - 19Car. 107Yds.
Barry Hargraves - 1Car. 5Yds.
Chris Daniels - 2Car. 2Yds.
Kimani Robinson - 2Car. 1Yd.
Josiah Silver - 4 Tackles, 1.5TFL

Phantoms - 24 plays for 115 total yards (all rushes); 0-0 passing; 0 turnovers; 2 penalties for 10 yards

 

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As we get ready to begin the 2nd half - it's worth pointing out that Phoebus changed from the blue jerseys and gold pants to now black unis and blue pants. Norcom is still in its white (well, now pretty much muddy) jerseys.

It'll be Norcom ball to start the 3rd period. They kickoff is returned to their own 26, where they will set up shop and try to get the running game with Demonte Dunlap going I would think.

 

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As suspected, Dunlap would start to put his fingerprints on this ballgame and does with a burst. Now the question becomes can Norcom finish this series off with the game's first points?

 

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Davis deserves a lot of credit for living out the motto that coaches have of, 'Don't give up on the play.' He didn't on the long run where Dunlap could've found the end zone. And on the INT, it was deflected and he kept his concentration to make the play.

 

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Phoebus moves the chains on 3rd & 7 from their own 23 with QB Chris Daniels scrambling for 8.

Faced with 2nd & 5 from their own 35, the Phantoms hand it to Jaylen White for his first carry of the day and he gains 6. White has been battling injuries, and with that being the case, Anthony Turner has moved into a feature ball carrier role. Turner has 22 rushes for 115 yards thus far.

The Phantoms are facing a key 3rd & 9 now from their own 42.

 

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The Norcom defense comes up with a stop on 3rd down. Phoebus punts it away 35 yards.

Norcom takes over at their own 25 with 5:11 left in the 3rd period.

Taurus Jones has been a beast today at linebacker for Norcom. With offers from a host of schools (the likes of Charlotte, Fordham, ODU, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and several others), he's been drilling ball carriers all day long.

 

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Wilson has been relatively quiet today until that play. It gets the crowd - full of umbrellas as the rain continues to fall hard - fired up here at Darling.

But wait, Norcom stays on the field as Phoebus commits a 15-yard roughing the punter penalty. That's the second 15-yard infraction on the Phantoms this series. Norcom has a fresh set of downs at their own 40.

 

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A holding penalty - Norcom's 6th flag for 64 yards on the day - pushes them backwards.

Now RB Demonte Dunlap (8 rushes for 62 yards) is being checked on after getting stuffed for a loss of 4 by Phoebus defensive linemen Austin Gilliam and Josiah Silver. That Phoebus d-line is really sound and has given practically every o-line they've seen trouble this year.

Dunlap is able to get up and is helped off by a couple of Norcom assistants, but his day could be done. With him out, the Greyhounds could lean more on their passing game and some speedsters - such as Celon Lawrence - in space.

 

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Just have the feeling this game will be decided either on a defensive touchdown or safety... unless it goes to OT deadlocked with no points on the board.

 

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Former Daily Press writer Kate Yanchulis has chimed in on the recollection of the triple-overtime, defensive battle she had to cover...



Following the Norcom punt, Phoebus takes over at their own 33-yard line with 11:51 remaining. The Phantoms goes 3 & out with QB Chris Daniels being sacked on 3rd down by Daunte Brown.

The Phantoms have yet to attempt a pass all day. Norcom is just 1 of 7 with an interception through the air.

Norcom takes over at their own 39-yard line with 9:20 to play in regulation after the 23-yard punt for Phoebus.

In for the injured Demonte Dunlap, Greyhounds running back Carnell McElroy gains 5 yards before being knocked out of bounds by Davaughn Davis. Then it's back-to-back stops by Phoebus d-lineman Austin Gilliam, the first being a sack. Norcom will punt it at away on 4th & 4 from their own 45 with under 8 minutes to go.

 

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Beginning at their own 28-yard line with 7:17 remaining, Phoebus hands it off to Trevon Hayes for three straight plays for his first three carries of the day (remember, Anthony Turner has 24 rushes for 120 yards and did most of the heavy lifting with 19 attempts in the first half).

Karon Prunty made the stop on 3rd down. So Phoebus - although I'm sure Head Coach Jeremy Blunt is tempted - will do the wise thing and punt it away on 4th & 1 from their own 37.

The punt is fielded by Norcom's CaSaan Dixon, who returns it about 5 yards, but a late hit on Phoebus will move the Greyhounds up to midfield with 4:46 to play in this scoreless grudge match.

 

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After back-to-back tackles for loss by Corey Wilson and Domonic Edwards for Phoebus, the Phantoms come up with their second takeaway of the afternoon.

 

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Norcom Coach Larry Archie can take a sigh of relief, briefly. CaSaan Dixon - who has battled through injuries the last two seasons, yet is such a factor in all three phases (offense, defense and special teams) - gets the first takeaway of the day for Norcom.

The Greyhounds will probably stay conservative here unless their first play gains good yardage.

 

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Not going to lie - this tweet made me laugh pretty hard...



Josh Austin and Josiah Silver combine to make the sack for the Phoebus defense on 3rd down.

The clock stops with 58 seconds to play before Norcom will punt it away on 4th & 16 from their own 41.

 

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Rashaan Greenidge with a 50-yard booming punt. Phoebus takes over at their own 9 with 39 seconds to play as the rain intensifies. Yes, folks, I think we're looking at overtime.

 

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This is shades of the Phoebus 7-0 regular season win over Bethel in triple-overtime in 2015.

For Norcom, they are hoping for a different outcome than their previous playoff encounters against the Phantoms. The Greyhounds haven't beaten the Phantoms since 1993 - the year they last won a state title - as they've lost the past five meetings to Phoebus. That includes a 24-20 heart-breaker in 2011.

 

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Oddly enough, the field is in the best shape between the 10-yard line and the end zone, so there shouldn't be as much slipping and sliding on what is an absolute mud-pit of a field here at Darling Stadium.

Norcom will have the first shot here in OT against Phoebus.

 

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Norcom's first OT possession...

1st & 10 at PHS 10 - CaSaan Dixon on a sweep and he loses 5. Believe it was Austin Gilliam and Josiah Silver on the stop.

On 2nd & 15 at PHS 15 - Josh Austin sacks Jacoby Smith for a loss of 5.

On 3rd & 20 at PHS 20 - Smith's pass is incomplete, intended for Karon Prunty. Appears to be Latrelle Smith getting a hand on it for the Phoebus defense.

FG try of 37 yards coming for Norcom. Emil Lindholm's field goal hits the crossbar.

Phoebus now with a chance to win it OT.

 

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Phoebus 1st series in OT...

1st & 10 at Norcom 10 - Anthony Turner's run is stopped for no gain, almost lost a yard. Antwaun Powell-Ryland with the fine tackle from his d-end spot.

Phantoms call time-out before 2nd & 10 from Norcom 10

 

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On 2nd & Goal from Norcom 10 - it's Anthony Turner gaining 3 yards.

On 3rd & Goal from Norcom 7 - the Phantoms trot out kicker Anthony Wallace for a FG try of 24 yards. But Norcom will ice him by calling a time-out.

 

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Wallace's field goal hit the right upright... and folks, it looked like it would go through from here. The Phantoms might be second guessing the decision not to run a play - run or pass - on 3rd down. Phoebus has not attempted a single pass all day. They've run the ball 42 times.

So it'll be Phoebus ball first in the second OT as they switch sides of the field, going to our left end.

 

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Phoebus first series of the 2nd OT:

1st & Goal at the Norcom 10 - Anthony Turner runs and it is fumbled, recovered by Norcom's Daunte Brown.

 

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Norcom offense on for 2nd OT:

1st & Goal from Phoebus 10 - Linwood White runs and loses a yard, tackled by Austin Gilliam of Phoebus.

2nd & GL from P11 - QB Jacoby Smith with the bootleg fake, gaining 7 yards.

3rd & GL from P4 - A 1-yard run by Norcom, believe it was Linwood White again, but could not tell. Also appeared to be Kimani Robinson with the stop (but hard to tell from up here).

4th & GL from P3 - FG try of 20 yards upcoming for Emil Lindholm as Phoebus calls time-out in an effort to ice him.

 

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Another kick that looked like it had enough leg to go, but not through the uprights so we play on...

 

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3rd OT upcoming and Norcom will have the ball first:

1st & Goal from PHS 10 - False Start
1st & GL from PHS 15 - Jacoby Smith with a 15-yard TD pass to Taurus Jones off a deflection. Jones appeared to dive to pull it in, too. What a catch and score.

Unreal.

Norcom is celebrating as if they won, so they will get penalized for the PAT try. The players thought the game was over. But the extra point will be 15 yards back. It's not over because Phoebus gets a shot in the OT. (so technically it's an excessive celebration penalty... which part of me wishes they let slide)

PAT forthcoming...

 

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Phoebus now with its turn...