Blog Class 4 State Final: Varina (12-1) v. Phoebus (13-0)

[CRF4Dan]

Good Evening Football Fans...

If you cannot watch the game on the NFHS Network or listen on the radio I have you covered for the next few hours bringing you updates live from here at Liberty of the Class 4 Final, Phoebus versus Highland Springs. Last game of the season for both.

Phoebus seeks their 11th state title, Varina their 2nd. Varina won here two years ago whereas Phoebus won here last year.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Good Evening Football Fans...

If you cannot watch the game on the NFHS Network or listen on the radio I have you covered for the next few hours bringing you updates live from here at Liberty of the Class 4 Final, Phoebus versus Highland Springs. Last game of the season for both.

Phoebus seeks their 11th state title, Varina their 2nd. Varina won here two years ago whereas Phoebus won here last year.

Phoebus is 10-1 all-time in state finals with their only loss in 2018 to Heritage of Lynchburg.

Varina is 1-2 all-time in state finals with back-to-back losses in 1998 and 1999 before that first title three years ago.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus is 10-1 all-time in state finals with their only loss in 2018 to Heritage of Lynchburg.

Varina is 1-2 all-time in state finals with back-to-back losses in 1998 and 1999 before that first title three years ago.

Phoebus is 10-10 versus the Central Region all-time, 6-3 in the playoffs.

Varina is 15-18 versus the 757 all-time with a mark of 2-3 in the playoffs.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus is 10-10 versus the Central Region all-time, 6-3 in the playoffs.

Varina is 15-18 versus the 757 all-time with a mark of 2-3 in the playoffs.

FWIW... for fans of the Central Region, I was here in 2019 (Hopewell won) and 2021 (Varina won). Does the streak continue?

 

[CRF4Dan]

Varina will receive to get the Class 4 Final started.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Already things getting chippy out here and we haven't even had the first offensive snap yet.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Already things getting chippy out here and we haven't even had the first offensive snap yet.

Phoebus stuffs Devin Henderson but he does get away with a yard. 2nd & 9, Blue Devil ball at their own 32. Myles Anderson with a big run with Brendan Thompson hitting him out of bounds. Blue Devils at the Phoebus 49.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus stuffs Devin Henderson but he does get away with a yard. 2nd & 9, Blue Devil ball at their own 32. Myles Anderson with a big run with Brendan Thompson hitting him out of bounds. Blue Devils at the Phoebus 49.

Team tackle for Phantoms of Henderson. Not much going on early on for him although he does come away with 2 yards.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Team tackle for Phantoms of Henderson. Not much going on early on for him although he does come away with 2 yards.

3rd & 8 for Varina after incomplete pass. Kaleb Wyche off an O-Lineman, goes to the right and is stuffed. Blue Devils punting after stalled drive.

 

[CRF4Dan]

3rd & 8 for Varina after incomplete pass. Kaleb Wyche off an O-Lineman, goes to the right and is stuffed. Blue Devils punting after stalled drive.

Phoebus on offense for the first time today, starting at their own 23.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus on offense for the first time today, starting at their own 23.

QB Maurikus Banks testing Varina defense early with a pass to Noah Jefferson. 1st & 10 at their own 46, a gain of 23 yards from jump. VArina defense sniffs out end around run but Phantoms do get a yard. 2nd & 9 for Phantoms.

 

[CRF4Dan]

QB Maurikus Banks testing Varina defense early with a pass to Noah Jefferson. 1st & 10 at their own 46, a gain of 23 yards from jump. VArina defense sniffs out end around run but Phantoms do get a yard. 2nd & 9 for Phantoms.

Braylon Hood with a big hit but the Phantoms do come away with another yard. Apologies if I miss names... gold numbers on white jerseys tough to read from pressbox.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Braylon Hood with a big hit but the Phantoms do come away with another yard. Apologies if I miss names... gold numbers on white jerseys tough to read from pressbox.

3rd & 8 the Phantoms face and Banks airs it out overthrowing his man. 4th & 8 for the Phantoms and it appears they will play smart ball and punt. Flag comes out for running into the kicker.

 

[CRF4Dan]

3rd & 8 the Phantoms face and Banks airs it out overthrowing his man. 4th & 8 for the Phantoms and it appears they will play smart ball and punt. Flag comes out for running into the kicker.

Penalty was declined, Varina back on offense at their own 33. Flag flies... this time against Varina for false start. 1st & 15 from their own 28. Blue Devils not making it easy on themselves. Henderson runs right up the middle but finds it congested. Gonna be tough to run up the middle but he does come away with 3 yards. Wyche on the run and brought down by Kaleb Tillery. There is laundry on the field again...

 

[CRF4Dan]

Penalty was declined, Varina back on offense at their own 33. Flag flies... this time against Varina for false start. 1st & 15 from their own 28. Blue Devils not making it easy on themselves. Henderson runs right up the middle but finds it congested. Gonna be tough to run up the middle but he does come away with 3 yards. Wyche on the run and brought down by Kaleb Tillery. There is laundry on the field again...

Hold Varina as the Blue Devils hurting themselves. Varina now faces 2nd & 22 from their own 21. Pass to DaMari Carter for a pickup of a few... 5 yards maybe. 3rd & 17, Kaleb Wyche cannot find a man open and scrambles out of bounds on the Varina sideline. Varina will punt on 4th & 15.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Hold Varina as the Blue Devils hurting themselves. Varina now faces 2nd & 22 from their own 21. Pass to DaMari Carter for a pickup of a few... 5 yards maybe. 3rd & 17, Kaleb Wyche cannot find a man open and scrambles out of bounds on the Varina sideline. Varina will punt on 4th & 15.

By my count Varina has been penalized a total of 4 times now. Can't make mistakes at this frequency in a game of this magnitude and against a team like Phoebus.

 

[CRF4Dan]

By my count Varina has been penalized a total of 4 times now. Can't make mistakes at this frequency in a game of this magnitude and against a team like Phoebus.

Phoebus takes over at their own 39, 1st & 10. Jaiden Walker in on the stop for Varina as Kaleb Tillery picks up 1 yard. The Phantoms follow that up with Maurikus Banks running to the Varina sideline without finding a guy to pitch the ball to. Phantoms face 3rd & 5.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus takes over at their own 39, 1st & 10. Jaiden Walker in on the stop for Varina as Kaleb Tillery picks up 1 yard. The Phantoms follow that up with Maurikus Banks running to the Varina sideline without finding a guy to pitch the ball to. Phantoms face 3rd & 5.

Davion Roberts and Devin Henderson collide at the Varina 48. Phoebus with a fresh set of downs and Banks pass is broken up by Mr. Myles Anderson.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Davion Roberts and Devin Henderson collide at the Varina 48. Phoebus with a fresh set of downs and Banks pass is broken up by Mr. Myles Anderson.

2nd & 10 for Phantoms, Phoebus goes back to the ground with Damante Williams carrying for 6. 3rd & 4, Blue Devils need a stop.

 

[CRF4Dan]

2nd & 10 for Phantoms, Phoebus goes back to the ground with Damante Williams carrying for 6. 3rd & 4, Blue Devils need a stop.

Yellow on the field, pushes Phoebus back 5 for a false start. Phantoms face 3rd & 9... Pass gets off to Brandon Diggs and the chains move again.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Yellow on the field, pushes Phoebus back 5 for a false start. Phantoms face 3rd & 9... Pass gets off to Brandon Diggs and the chains move again.

Phoebus 1st & 10 at the 29 and the chains move again behind Davion Roberts down to the 17. Blue Devil defense getting pushed around early on unable to cover all the weapons being thrown at them.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus 1st & 10 at the 29 and the chains move again behind Davion Roberts down to the 17. Blue Devil defense getting pushed around early on unable to cover all the weapons being thrown at them.

Roberts finding the holes and exposing them. Jaiden Walker makes the stop but the Phantoms sit at the 10 with 3 yards for a first down.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Roberts finding the holes and exposing them. Jaiden Walker makes the stop but the Phantoms sit at the 10 with 3 yards for a first down.

Jervell Barksdale hits Roberts for a loss of 1 bringing him down from behind with the bear hug. 3rd & 4 at the 11 for Phoebus. Varina defense comes up big again with Braylon Hood stopping the Phantoms in their track and a loss of 3!

 

[CRF4Dan]

Jervell Barksdale hits Roberts for a loss of 1 bringing him down from behind with the bear hug. 3rd & 4 at the 11 for Phoebus. Varina defense comes up big again with Braylon Hood stopping the Phantoms in their track and a loss of 3!

4th & 7, Phoebus opting for a field goal and it is good, 24 yards and the Phantoms have the first lead of the game, 3-0 with 20 seconds to go in the first quarter.

 

[CRF4Dan]

As we start the second quarter the Blue Devils are sitting on their own 42 facing 3rd & 4. Kaleb Wyche scrambles for a first down. Varina ball at the 50!

 

[CRF4Dan]

As we start the second quarter the Blue Devils are sitting on their own 42 facing 3rd & 4. Kaleb Wyche scrambles for a first down. Varina ball at the 50!

Kaleb Wyche cut down by the Phantoms Brendan Thompson for a loss of 1. 2nd & 11 for Blue Devils and Wyche right up the middle to move those chains. Varina ball at the 40.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Kaleb Wyche cut down by the Phantoms Brendan Thompson for a loss of 1. 2nd & 11 for Blue Devils and Wyche right up the middle to move those chains. Varina ball at the 40.

Devin Henderson with a pickup of 5 after Markus Hopson stops him.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Devin Henderson with a pickup of 5 after Markus Hopson stops him.

DaMari Carter hauls in the Wyche pass and takes a vicious hit in the process but holds on to the ball. Ball at the Phoebus 26 but Wyche is brought down for a loss of 3. Phoebus defense getting more aggressive as Varina finds a rhythm on offense. Wyche to the left. Flag flies as players have words with one another.

 

[CRF4Dan]

DaMari Carter hauls in the Wyche pass and takes a vicious hit in the process but holds on to the ball. Ball at the Phoebus 26 but Wyche is brought down for a loss of 3. Phoebus defense getting more aggressive as Varina finds a rhythm on offense. Wyche to the left. Flag flies as players have words with one another.

Penalty is assessed to Varina, unsportsmanlike conduct. Damaging penalty... 3rd & 23 for Varina.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Penalty is assessed to Varina, unsportsmanlike conduct. Damaging penalty... 3rd & 23 for Varina.

Incomplete pass for Kaleb Wyche along the sideline. Varina set to punt looking to pin Phoebus back deep following a delay of game penalty against Varina.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Incomplete pass for Kaleb Wyche along the sideline. Varina set to punt looking to pin Phoebus back deep following a delay of game penalty against Varina.

Phoebus takes over at their own 13.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus takes over at their own 13.

Davion Roberts with the carry, a pickup of 4 yards. The Phantoms follow that up with an incomplete pass as QB Maurikus Banks gets put on his back. Phantoms facing 3rd & 6. Varina hit again with personal foul, roughing the passer. Varina's own worst enemy is themselves at this point.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Davion Roberts with the carry, a pickup of 4 yards. The Phantoms follow that up with an incomplete pass as QB Maurikus Banks gets put on his back. Phantoms facing 3rd & 6. Varina hit again with personal foul, roughing the passer. Varina's own worst enemy is themselves at this point.

Phoebus 1st & 10 at their own 32 and Davion Roberts takes it to the 43, a pickup of 11 and those chains move again.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus 1st & 10 at their own 32 and Davion Roberts takes it to the 43, a pickup of 11 and those chains move again.

Jaysean Richardson with a big stop! The big man gets to the QB for a loss of 14 yards!

 

[CRF4Dan]

Jaysean Richardson with a big stop! The big man gets to the QB for a loss of 14 yards!

Banks lets it fly but the ball falls incomplete with Tyion Crump getting his fingers on the ball to breakup the pass. 3rd & 24 the Phantoms face and they are it out with Sair Rex picking it off! Varina setup at Phoebus 25.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Banks lets it fly but the ball falls incomplete with Tyion Crump getting his fingers on the ball to breakup the pass. 3rd & 24 the Phantoms face and they are it out with Sair Rex picking it off! Varina setup at Phoebus 25.

Wyche pass for DaMari Carter overthrown. These two are usually a dangerous combo but kind of quiet thus far today.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Wyche pass for DaMari Carter overthrown. These two are usually a dangerous combo but kind of quiet thus far today.

Kaleb Wyche with a 3-yard scramble. Blue Devils facing 3rd & 7

 

[CRF4Dan]

Varina hit with a holding call. The Blue Devils penalties are mounting and hurting them in the process. 3rd & 17 for Varina and it is a pass to Trevon Rogers in the end zone! Varina takes the lead 6-3 as PAT fails. 4:40 2nd QTR

 

[CRF4Dan]

Varina hit with a holding call. The Blue Devils penalties are mounting and hurting them in the process. 3rd & 17 for Varina and it is a pass to Trevon Rogers in the end zone! Varina takes the lead 6-3 as PAT fails. 4:40 2nd QTR

Phoebus setup at their own 33. Davion Roberts legs don't stop, runs for 8. Roberts does it again, this time for a fresh set of downs at their own 46.

 

[CRF4Dan]

Phoebus setup at their own 33. Davion Roberts legs don't stop, runs for 8. Roberts does it again, this time for a fresh set of downs at their own 46.

54 yard touchdown pass from Maurikus Banks to Romeir Smith! Phoebus back to the lead, 9-6 after their PAT is no good.