This is an excerpt from VaPilot with an update for our 757 area teams. I deleted the images and left out the Bay Rivers & Private School summaries since as I had predicted. It seems that most all of the best stories are coming out of the Class 5 teams down here.
Just a summary for those that don't like the long postings: It looks possible that there could be 3 undefeated Class 5, Reg A Teams come play off time. Maury looks most likely to go 10-0. Salem has to beat Ocean Lakes & Cox but they should be favored to do so. Woodside has a date with Pheobus in their way to a 10-0 season but this could be their best chance in many years.
Deep Creek has the toughest road to 10-0. They finish their season playing Indian River, Oscar Smith, King's Fork and finish vs Nansemond River. BUT, if they can do it, look out for a crazy Class 5 tournament!!!!
Here are the surprises, standouts from the first half of the season in Hampton Roads
By Larry Rubama - 757Teamz |Oct 01, 2019 | 4:13 PM
Most high school football teams in Hampton Roads have reached the midseason, while others will get there on Friday. Here’s a look at the surprises and standout players so far.
Beach District
Biggest surprises
Princess Anne hasn’t had a winning season since 2000. It has been to the playoffs just three times – losing all three. But this season’s team is turning heads as the Cavaliers are 4-1 for the first time since 2000, including a victory over defending district champion Ocean Lakes. Princess Anne is rated No. 5 in Class 5 Region A. ... Salem in first place isn’t a surprise, but the way the SunDevils have dominated is very impressive. They have outscored opponents 221-12 and are 5-0 for the first time since 2014. The SunDevils are No. 2 in 5A. … Cox is once again in the thick of the district race at 3-1 and ranked No. 7 in 5A. ... Bayside and Tallwood are usually contenders each season, but both are struggling. The Marlins are 1-3 for the first time since 2008, while the Lions are off to their worst start since 2014.
Standout players
Salem running back Kaelon Black is having a phenomenal season. The senior has rushed for 761 yards and 14 touchdowns this season and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He is definitely on the short list for the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year. ... Princess Anne five-star player Tony Grimes has seven receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns. He has scored five rushing touchdowns and has two interceptions. ... Ocean Lakes running back Kai Hodge has rushed for 527 yards and six touchdowns for the Dolphins.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 11 – Maury at Ocean Lakes; Oct. 18 – Cox at Princess Anne; Oct. 18 – Ocean Lakes at Salem; Nov. 8 – Cox at Salem.
Eastern District
Biggest surprises
Maury is even better than first thought. The Commodores, who shared the district title last year with Lake Taylor, are in the driver’s seat to win their first outright district title since 1990. The Commodores are ranked No. 1 in 5A. … Robert Jackson is 3-1 since taking over as Norcom’s head coach. The Greyhounds, who are ranked No. 4 in 3A, will be tested with games against Lake Taylor, Churchland and Maury. ... Churchland (4-1) is off to its best start since 2013, when the Truckers started 5-0 and finished 8-3. They are No. 2 in the 4A rankings.
Standout players
Lake Taylor running back Malik Newton — the reigning Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year — is off to another great season. He has rushed for 366 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He also has 22 tackles, two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one sack. ... Maury quarterback EJ Gibson and all-around athlete KeAndre Lambert are leading the star-studded Commodores. Gibson has completed 46 of 70 passes for 872 yards and 14 touchdowns. Lambert has 587 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns, including three on punt returns. ... Booker T. Washington running back Rodney Hammond has rushed for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 11 – Norcom at Lake Taylor; Oct. 18 – Churchland at Lake Taylor; Nov. 1 – Maury at Norcom.
Peninsula District
Biggest surprises
Woodside is 5-0 for the first time since 2014. The Wolverines, who ranked No. 3 in 5A, have outscored opponents 129-14 and have posted four shutouts. ... Phoebus is always a contender in the district, and the Phantoms are looking good again as they’ve won three in a row since losing to Lake Taylor in the season opener. They are No. 3 in 3A. ... Gloucester (3-2) has won three in a row. That’s happened just two times since 2000 — the Dukes won four in a row in 2000 and five consecutive games in 2017.
Standout players
Woodside quarterback Kahleef Jimmison rarely leaves the field. On offense, he has completed 34 of 54 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, with just one interception. He also has rushed for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He also plays in the secondary for the Wolverines. ... Bethel defenders Jameer Jackson (26 tackles, two forced fumbles) and Jackson Griffiths (seven sacks and two forced fumbles) are leading the Bruins.
Can’t-miss game: Oct. 24 – Woodside vs. Phoebus (at Darling Stadium).
Southeastern District
Biggest surprises
Everyone is talking about Oscar Smith, but don’t sleep on Deep Creek. The Hornets are 4-0 for the third consecutive season under coach Andre Twine. They are No. 4 in 5A. … Things are looking up at Western Branch. The Bruins (2-2) snapped a 14-game losing streak two weeks ago and then last week won back-to-back games for the first time since 2017. ... Last season was the first time Oscar Smith didn’t win at least a share of the district title since 2003. Now the Tigers are in the driver’s seat to bring home the title. They are No. 4 in 6A.
Standout players
Deep Creek running back Antoine Flora has rushed for 523 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has three interceptions. ... Nansemond River running back X’zavion Evans has rushed for 617 yards and nine touchdowns. ... Oscar Smith’s MVP has been its defense, allowing just 29 points this season. But quarterback Ethan Vasko has thrown for 853 yards and 12 touchdowns. ... Indian River’s LaMareon James was held in check last week against Oscar Smith, but he’s still one of the best in the district. He has 350 receiving yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 18 – Oscar Smith at Nansemond River; Oct. 25 – Deep Creek at Oscar Smith.
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
Larry Rubama is a sports reporter for the Virginian-Pilot. He joined The Pilot in 1999 after writing for The Journal-Gazette (Ind.) A former track athlete at Ohio University, he became a sports reporter so he could tell other athletes’ stories.
Just a summary for those that don't like the long postings: It looks possible that there could be 3 undefeated Class 5, Reg A Teams come play off time. Maury looks most likely to go 10-0. Salem has to beat Ocean Lakes & Cox but they should be favored to do so. Woodside has a date with Pheobus in their way to a 10-0 season but this could be their best chance in many years.
Deep Creek has the toughest road to 10-0. They finish their season playing Indian River, Oscar Smith, King's Fork and finish vs Nansemond River. BUT, if they can do it, look out for a crazy Class 5 tournament!!!!
Here are the surprises, standouts from the first half of the season in Hampton Roads
By Larry Rubama - 757Teamz |Oct 01, 2019 | 4:13 PM
Most high school football teams in Hampton Roads have reached the midseason, while others will get there on Friday. Here’s a look at the surprises and standout players so far.
Beach District
Biggest surprises
Princess Anne hasn’t had a winning season since 2000. It has been to the playoffs just three times – losing all three. But this season’s team is turning heads as the Cavaliers are 4-1 for the first time since 2000, including a victory over defending district champion Ocean Lakes. Princess Anne is rated No. 5 in Class 5 Region A. ... Salem in first place isn’t a surprise, but the way the SunDevils have dominated is very impressive. They have outscored opponents 221-12 and are 5-0 for the first time since 2014. The SunDevils are No. 2 in 5A. … Cox is once again in the thick of the district race at 3-1 and ranked No. 7 in 5A. ... Bayside and Tallwood are usually contenders each season, but both are struggling. The Marlins are 1-3 for the first time since 2008, while the Lions are off to their worst start since 2014.
Standout players
Salem running back Kaelon Black is having a phenomenal season. The senior has rushed for 761 yards and 14 touchdowns this season and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He is definitely on the short list for the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year. ... Princess Anne five-star player Tony Grimes has seven receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns. He has scored five rushing touchdowns and has two interceptions. ... Ocean Lakes running back Kai Hodge has rushed for 527 yards and six touchdowns for the Dolphins.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 11 – Maury at Ocean Lakes; Oct. 18 – Cox at Princess Anne; Oct. 18 – Ocean Lakes at Salem; Nov. 8 – Cox at Salem.
Eastern District
Biggest surprises
Maury is even better than first thought. The Commodores, who shared the district title last year with Lake Taylor, are in the driver’s seat to win their first outright district title since 1990. The Commodores are ranked No. 1 in 5A. … Robert Jackson is 3-1 since taking over as Norcom’s head coach. The Greyhounds, who are ranked No. 4 in 3A, will be tested with games against Lake Taylor, Churchland and Maury. ... Churchland (4-1) is off to its best start since 2013, when the Truckers started 5-0 and finished 8-3. They are No. 2 in the 4A rankings.
Standout players
Lake Taylor running back Malik Newton — the reigning Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year — is off to another great season. He has rushed for 366 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He also has 22 tackles, two quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one sack. ... Maury quarterback EJ Gibson and all-around athlete KeAndre Lambert are leading the star-studded Commodores. Gibson has completed 46 of 70 passes for 872 yards and 14 touchdowns. Lambert has 587 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns, including three on punt returns. ... Booker T. Washington running back Rodney Hammond has rushed for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 11 – Norcom at Lake Taylor; Oct. 18 – Churchland at Lake Taylor; Nov. 1 – Maury at Norcom.
Peninsula District
Biggest surprises
Woodside is 5-0 for the first time since 2014. The Wolverines, who ranked No. 3 in 5A, have outscored opponents 129-14 and have posted four shutouts. ... Phoebus is always a contender in the district, and the Phantoms are looking good again as they’ve won three in a row since losing to Lake Taylor in the season opener. They are No. 3 in 3A. ... Gloucester (3-2) has won three in a row. That’s happened just two times since 2000 — the Dukes won four in a row in 2000 and five consecutive games in 2017.
Standout players
Woodside quarterback Kahleef Jimmison rarely leaves the field. On offense, he has completed 34 of 54 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, with just one interception. He also has rushed for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He also plays in the secondary for the Wolverines. ... Bethel defenders Jameer Jackson (26 tackles, two forced fumbles) and Jackson Griffiths (seven sacks and two forced fumbles) are leading the Bruins.
Can’t-miss game: Oct. 24 – Woodside vs. Phoebus (at Darling Stadium).
Southeastern District
Biggest surprises
Everyone is talking about Oscar Smith, but don’t sleep on Deep Creek. The Hornets are 4-0 for the third consecutive season under coach Andre Twine. They are No. 4 in 5A. … Things are looking up at Western Branch. The Bruins (2-2) snapped a 14-game losing streak two weeks ago and then last week won back-to-back games for the first time since 2017. ... Last season was the first time Oscar Smith didn’t win at least a share of the district title since 2003. Now the Tigers are in the driver’s seat to bring home the title. They are No. 4 in 6A.
Standout players
Deep Creek running back Antoine Flora has rushed for 523 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has three interceptions. ... Nansemond River running back X’zavion Evans has rushed for 617 yards and nine touchdowns. ... Oscar Smith’s MVP has been its defense, allowing just 29 points this season. But quarterback Ethan Vasko has thrown for 853 yards and 12 touchdowns. ... Indian River’s LaMareon James was held in check last week against Oscar Smith, but he’s still one of the best in the district. He has 350 receiving yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Can’t-miss games: Oct. 18 – Oscar Smith at Nansemond River; Oct. 25 – Deep Creek at Oscar Smith.
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
Larry Rubama is a sports reporter for the Virginian-Pilot. He joined The Pilot in 1999 after writing for The Journal-Gazette (Ind.) A former track athlete at Ohio University, he became a sports reporter so he could tell other athletes’ stories.
