Game Blog - #4 Hopewell 7, #1 Phoebus 6 in Class 3, Region A Semis

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Follow LIVE Updates from the Class 3, Region A semifinals here at Darling Stadium as the top-seeded Phoebus Phantoms (11-0) play host to the fourth-seeded Hopewell Blue Devils (7-4).

Both programs reached the State Semis each of the last two years. Only one will have a shot to get there next week as the York Falcons await the winner. York will host Hopewell if the Blue Devils win, whereas Phoebus will host the Falcons if they are able to prevail today.

We'll have updates throughout the day on the Blog here and via Twitter @ hatfieldsports - follow along!

 

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On its opening series that begins at their own 30-yard line, Hopewell QB Greg Cuffey - who committed earlier this week to William & Mary - moves the chains on a nice fake that picks up 7 yards. However, the drive ends up stalling.

Phoebus LB Kareem Wilson missed last week's regional quarterfinal win over Booker T. Washington due to injury according to Phantoms Head Coach Jeremy Blunt in pre-game. Wilson is back and had a key tackle on that series.

 

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Phoebus begins its first possession at their own 23-yard line with 8:01 to go in the opening period. They mix it up with their play-calling, hitting RB Daequan Fleming for a gain of 7 through the air from QB Chris Daniels. On the ground, Daniel Wright moves the chains with a rush for 7 yards.

Barry Hargraves puts them in 3rd & short after picking up 6 on a jet sweep. But on 3rd & 4 from their own 43, it's Hopewell senior defender Daryan Blowe stepping up with a sack.

Phantoms punt it away.

 

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5:11 left 1stQ - Hopewell 6, Phoebus 0. Greg Cuffey (William & Mary commit) with a 63-yard TD pass to Sean Allen. PAT is no good.

Correction - Hopewell 7, Phoebus 0 at End of 1. PAT apparently was ruled good (one ref initially signaled no good, but the other overruled him).

Hopewell strikes first and it is Allen burning his defender on what appeared to me to be a stop-and-go, double move.

Don't expect Phoebus to panic, though. They trailed 14-0 against Booker T. Washington a week ago before scoring 42 unanswered points. In addition, they rallied in the closing seconds to beat arch rival Hampton here at Darling on a Saturday in October. So this is a group used to shaking off slow starts.

 

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That catch by Edwards was tremendous. The Phantoms are starting to try to impose their will with the power running game through Daniel Wright as well.

 

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Hopewell got 69 of those yards on one play - which resulted in points. Phoebus has 43 yards rushing and 24 passing as sophomore QB Chris Daniels is 2 of 2 through the air, but did get sacked once on the team's opening possession.

The most amazing stat of that first quarter was neither team got flagged for a penalty. Don't see that too often for an entire 12-minute stretch of a High School Football game. Refreshing nonetheless.

Correction - Hopewell 7, Phoebus 0 at End of 1. PAT apparently was ruled good (one ref initially signaled no good, but the other overruled him).

 

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This is one of those days where Phoebus is going to have to run the ball in my opinion to win this game, even if the offensive line has some lapses.

 

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With Ronnie Walker headed off to Indiana next year, the Blue Devils look to have their ball carrier of the future in Briggs.

While we cautioned Phoebus rallied from 14 points down a week ago, they don't want to dig too big of a hole against this Hopewell team because the Blue Devils are explosive and are content getting in a shoot-out type of game. There's no intimidation factor it looks like either.

 

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Missed a couple series, folks. Apologize as we had some computer internet connectivity issues here in the pressbox.

Also - am just told that they ruled the extra point was GOOD on the first Hopewell touchdown. A few of us up here in the box initially thought it was no good.

So score is Hopewell 7-0. Blue Devils putting together a nice drive, in Phoebus territory.

 

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A very nifty play-call by Irby there. But they need to finish off the drive with points to take some momentum into the locker room.

 

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If it isn't Kareem Wilson making a key tackle for the Phoebus defense, it has been Kameron Wilson on the line. Know Coach Blunt is happy to get #34 back in the lineup today and it gives the Phantoms some life going to the locker room, only trailing by one score.

Some numbers forthcoming...

 

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Stats at the Half...

Hopewell 7:
Greg Cuffey - 4-4 for 71Yds. 1-0TD/Int. ratio; 6Car. 29Yds; 1Rec. 6Yds.
Robert Briggs - 4Car. 42Yds.
Ronnie Walker - 10Car. 19Yds.
Sean Allen - 1Rec. 63Yds. TD
Reggie Ruffin - 4 Tackles, TFL
Reizon Murphy - 4 Tackles

Blue Devils - 25 plays for 167 total yards (5-5 for 77 pass yards; 20Car. 90Yds.); 3 penalties for 35 yards; 0 turnovers


Phoebus 0:
Daniel Wright - 8Car. 36Yds.
Daequan Fleming - 2Car. 6Yds; 1Rec. 7Yds.
Chris Daniels - 2-5 for 24Yds.
Dequandre Edwards - 1Rec. 17Yds; 4 Tackles (2 Solo)
Kameron Wilson - 3 Tackles for Loss (2 Solo)

Phantoms - 20 plays for 74 total yards (2-5 for 24 pass yards; 15Car. 50Yds.); 4 penalties for 39 yards; 0 turnovers

 

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Type of start Phoebus wanted to begin the 2nd half. They follow it up with Chris Daniels hitting Darrell Bryant - the Peninsula District Defensive Player of the Year - for a gain of 17 through the air.

 

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Could that extra point come back to bit the Phantoms? Quite possibly. Hargraves' return on special teams gave the offense a jolt of energy and they cashed in on the opportunity.

 

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I'm curious to see how Hopewell now responds after failing to score before half - after getting down to the Phoebus 1-yard line - and then seeing the Phantoms pull closer with their first touchdown of the day.

Hopewell gets its first series of the third quarter at their own 38-yard line with 8:28 to play in the period. Greg Cuffey gains 3 yards on a run and then he finds Damonye Taylor for the third time today - this connection going for 12 yards into Phantoms territory.

But an incomplete pass, loss of 4 and then a false start puts Hopewell in 3rd & 19 from their own 44. Cuffey was a perfect 5 of 5 for 83 yards passing before that incomplete.

 

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Hopewell ends up punting away as the pass on 3rd & 19 only gains 7.

Phoebus begins at their own 21-yard line with 5:32 left in the third quarter. This is where the Blue Devils could badly use a takeaway. Greg Cuffey and Reizon Murphy lead them with three interceptions apiece.

 

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Well, the Hopewell defense doesn't get a takeaway. Instead, they settle for back-to-back sacks on 2nd and 3rd down - courtesy of Nyvon King and freshman Reggie Ruffin, respectively.

So the Blue Devils cling to a 7-6 lead and get the ball back at their own 43-yard line with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter in this defensive battle.

 

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Big 4th & 4 for Phoebus coming in the opening moments of this 4th quarter from the Hopewell 9-yard line. I think the Phantoms will try to throw to move the chains or score.

 

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Daniel Wright is more of a power back you run between the tackles, so surprised the Phantoms didn't put a shiftier back in there on that one.

Murphy has 6 solo stops today.

 

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Consecutive holding penalties has Hopewell looking at 2nd & 15 from their own 4-yard line. Against this Phoebus defense, the Blue Devils need to be extra cautious because they could easily have a safety put them behind 8-7 if not careful.

 

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On 3rd & 8 from their own 11 after a gain of 7 by Sean Allen on a screen pass, Hopewell just misses on a completion down their sideline. So they punt it away.



Does Chris Daniels, the promising sophomore QB for Phoebus, have late-game magic in him like he showed against Hampton on this field one month ago? W'ell find out...

 

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Gain of 11 with Chris Daniels to Dequandre Edwards on 1st & 10, into Hopewell territory.

Nyvon King makes his 3rd tackle for loss of the day for Hopewell's defense. Chris Daniels then scrambles for 10 yards. Now 3rd & 4 from the Blue Devils 37.

 

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The sideline routes have been there much of the afternoon for Phoebus. Daniels may roll-out and look for either Darrell Bryant or Barry Hargraves, both also capable of turning up-field after a catch. It wouldn't surprise me to see Hopewell send a blitz with a LB.

 

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That should be Daryan Blowe* on that as well...



Daniels just missed Barry Hargraves on the deep post. Pressure bearing down on him from that fierce Hopewell rush.

 

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Ronnie Walker loses 3 on first down. Then it's Darrell Bryant making a pivotal tackle on scrambling Hopewell QB Greg Cuffey, otherwise it's potentially a long gainer.

Time-out called with 1:45 remaining, 3rd & 9 coming up for the Blue Devils from their own 39.

 

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Yet, inexplicably, Phoebus called for having 12 men on the field on 4th & 7. Hopewell decides to put their offense back on the field, facing 4th & 2 from their own 46-yard line with 1:35. At least they're thinking about it... this could be a risky decision.

Hopewell still clinging to a 7-6 lead.

 

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Unreal. Can't understand why went for it...

 

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King in on his 3rd sack, 4th tackle for loss of the day.

 

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More later...

 

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Some final numbers...

Final Stats:

Hopewell 7: (8-4 Overall)
Greg Cuffey - 8-11 for 101Yds. 1-0TD/Int. ratio; 8Car. 36Yds; 1Rec. 6Yds.
Robert Briggs - 7Car. 44Yds.
Ronnie Walker - 12Car. 19Yds. (2Car. 0Yds. in 2nd Half)
Sean Allen - 2Rec. 70Yds. TD
Reggie Ruffin - 9 Tackles (3 Solo), 3TFL, 2.5 Sacks
Reizon Murphy - 8 Tackles (6 Solo)
Dre Thomas - 7 Tackles (4 Solo), TFL
Nyvon King - 5 Tackles (4 Solo), 3.5TFL, 2.5 Sacks

Blue Devils - 39 plays for 206 total yards (9-12 for 107 pass yards; 27 rushes for 99 yards); 7 penalties for 59 yards; 0 turnovers


Phoebus 6: (11-1 Overall)
Chris Daniels - 7-16 for 93Yds; 15Car. 2Yds. TD
Daniel Wright - 13Car. 51Yds. (5Car. 15Yds. in 2nd Half)
Daequan Fleming - 6Car. 17Yds; 2Rec. 19Yds.
Barry Hargraves - 2Rec. 29Yds; 1Car. 6Yds.
Dequandre Edwards - 2Rec. 28Yds; 4 Tackles (2 Solo)
Damion Charity - 7 Tackles (4 Solo), PBU
Kareem Wilson - 6 Tackles (5 Solo), TFL
Josiah Silver - 6 Tackles (2 Solo), 0.5TFL

Phantoms - 52 plays for 170 total yards (7-16 for 93 pass yards; 36 rushes for 77 yards); 6 penalties for 59 yards; 0 turnovers

 

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Video Interview with Hopewell Head Coach Ricky Irby after win:



Video Interview with Hopewell's Greg Cuffey & Nyvon King after win: