Blog Game Blog: New Kent 14, York 7 - FINAL

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Greetings from Bailey Field on this gorgeous Thursday night, October 6, 2022 as the York Falcons (4-1) play host to the New Kent Trojans (2-3).

The sun is setting and the temperature is right at 70 degrees.

We'll have updates here + via Twitter @hatfieldsports

Below is our Preview + Picks on the game...

New Kent (2-3) at York (4-1) . . . After wins over Colonial Heights and Bruton, the Trojans have dropped three in a row, the toughest to swallow in that stretch being a 10-7 defeat at the hands of Poquoson in a contest where they led until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. With QB/DB Ashton ‘A.J.’ Whitlow sidelined for another week, much of the offensive brunt for New Kent may fall on the shoulders of running back Joe Batkins, one of 13 seniors on the roster. For York, thy often have been known to use the run game to set up the pass, but this season the emergence of QB Nathan Wagner (36 of 58 for 666 yards, 7-2 TD/Int. ratio) has provided them more balance than usual on the offensive side of the ball while LB Shamarius Whitby (64 tackles) is a tackling machine on defense.

Matt Hatfield Says – York 27-16
Coach Ed Young Says – York 24-20

 

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A very nice 38-yard kickoff return to open the game for New Kent. Sets the Trojans up with good field position at their own 43. The first two runs from Logan Hodge and Joe Batkins total eight yards to bring up 3rd & 2 from the York 49. However, a five-yard penalty pushes New Kent back.

On 3rd & 7, the Trojans get only four yards forward with Hodge as sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Ransome (6-2, 275) makes the stop. New Kent punts it away.

York starts their first series with 9:13 to go in the opening frame at their own 35.

 

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York runs the ball with Anthony Artis and Immanuel Allen for three straight plays, gaining just one yard each until a 6-yard run from Allen. That tempts York Coach Doug Pereira to go for it on 4th & 2 from his own 40, which they Falcons do. Except they fumble the snap and end up losing two yards.

So New Kent is given golden field position, at the York 38, with 7:18 to go in the first period. Joe Batkins rushes for 2, but on 2nd & 8, a loss of five happens as junior LB Jayden Johnston makes a terrific. On 3rd & 13, the Trojans gain three on a run with RB turned QB Khoen Christian. His pass on 4th & 10 is nearly picked off by Allen.

York's second series starts at their own 38 with 5:05 to go in the first quarter with things still scoreless. The defenses have controlled things.

 

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York was moving in the right direction after a first down run of eight yards from Immanuel Allen on 2nd & 7 from their own 41. They even move into New Kent territory on a run of 6 by Landon Buffin. But a penalty, followed by consecutive stuffs from the New Kent defense, force them to punt on 4th & 17 from their own 42.

Junior DL Payton Williamson (6-3, 310) had the sack on 3rd & 9. York's punt takes a hop and a fortunate one for them, where the New Kent return man decides to pick it up and lose a yard or two.

New Kent's third possession will begin at their own 35 with 1:44 left in the first quarter.

 

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Following runs of 14 and 10 yards by Christian as well as 12 by Logan Hodge, the Trojans were also aided by a 15-yard York face-mask penalty.

So far statistically, here's what it looks like...

New Kent with 10 rushes for 50 yards; 0-1 passing

York with 9 rushes for 15 yards; no pass attempts.

 

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Kudos to that New Kent offensive line with Payton Williams, Cincere Hicks, J.P. Fallon for opening rushing lanes for the Trojans on that series. Coach John McCauley has to be thrilled to see that, even without one of their best blockers in Kellen Roberts (6-4, 260) out for the year with a torn ACL.

 

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York had a fine drive working, which started at the New Kent 49 at the 11:42 mark of the second period and got down tot he Trojans 19 before a 4th & 3 saw them get stopped. Immanuel Allen, who had a splendid 20-yard run where he displayed some juke ability, got tripped up before he could get outside and put the speed on his defender.

Interestingly to note, the Falcons had 13 runs before their first pass attempt. Quarterback Nate Wagner found Brian Burks on a 9-yard completion. Burks has been one of the top receivers in the Bay Rivers and all of Tidewater thus far.

New Kent's fourth possession begins at their own 20 with 8:39 to go in the first half.

 

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A face-mask penalty - the second of the night on York - moves New Kent closer to midfield. A few plays later on a 3rd & 6 from their own 41, the New Kent offense gets sent backwards on the outside run. Anthony Artis, senior d-end for York, made a very nice open field tackle for loss. That sends on the New Kent punting unit.

York's fourth series offensively starts at the 5:57 mark of the second quarter from their own 36. They go back to WR Brian Burks with a screen play and he gains 6. Landon Buffin runs for 11 yards on the next couple of plays as they move the sticks and get into New Kent territory.

The series stalls with a big 4th & 3 from the 44 of the Trojans. Doug Pereira will use his first time-out of the half with 3:13 to go until intermission. Look for Burks here.

 

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All of 5-9, 140 pounds, Burks looks like the best player on the field tonight and really displayed in that series.

Coming in, he had 16 receptions for 324 yards and 3 TD's So far, he's got 51 yards from scrimmage on five touches. New Kent is having a hard time accounting for him, especially without one of their best two-way players on Ashton 'A.J.' Whitlow, who is expected to return next week.

 

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The ensuing kickoff for New Kent following the York touchdown sees Joe Batkins return it 32 yards to their own 39 with 1:33 left in the first half. On this the fifth series of the half for the Trojans, they have all three time-outs to try to position themselves in field goal range.

A double-handoff nets 7 yards on a run with Logan Hodge. Then Khoen Christian rushes for 8 yards to the York 46-yard line one play after Coach McCauley burns his first time-out. Jayden Johnston brings Christian down for a gain of just 1, forcing the second time-out to be called with 55 seconds half in the half.

New Kent has it at the York 45, facing 2nd & 9. The Trojans have yet to complete a pass on the night and they probably will need one to get a chance at taking the lead.

 

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Khoen Christian just misses fellow junior Josiah Reedy on a vertical shot that could've been a touchdown. The York fans breathed a sigh of relief on that one. Now on 3rd & 9 from the 45, the Trojans will keep it on a QB run, but a 15-yard horse collar penalty gives the Trojans a fresh set of downs with 40 seconds to go in the first half. New Kent has it at the York 31.

The pocket collapses on Christian again as Jayden Johnston, Sean Blaylock and Jamison Ditto bring him down for a loss of 3. New Kent burns its final time-out before 2nd & 13 from the York 34 with 27 seconds to go in the second period. Joe Batkins does a superb job to get out of bounds after he hauls in the screen pass from Christian, giving them a shot at another play or two with 16 seconds till half-time. He gained 9, so it's 3rd & 4 from the 25.

 

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Some half-time numbers forthcoming...

 

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Stats at the Half:

York 7:
Nate Wagner - 5-7 for 53Yds.
Brian Burks - 4Rec. 50Yds; 1Car. TD
Immanuel Allen - 7Car. 42Yds; 3 Tackles, INT, PBU
Shamarius Whitby - 5 Tackles, Sack
Anthony Artis - 3 Tackles, TFL

Falcons - 28 plays for 112 total yards (5-7 for 53 yards passing; 21 rushes for 59 yards); 0 turnovers; 5 penalties for 60 yards


New Kent 7:
Khoen Christian - 1-4 for 9Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 9Car. 40Yds.
Joe Batkins - 5Car. 19Yds. TD
Logan Hodge - 5Car. 19Yds.
Jon Campbell - 6 Tackles (4 Solo), TFL
Ryan Gray - 3 Solo Tackles

Trojans - 23 plays for 87 total yards (1-4 for 9 yards passing, 1 INT; 19 rushes for 78 yards); 1 turnover; 1 penalty for 5 yards

 

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We'll be doing Photos in the 3rd quarter, but return for the 4th quarter for the Blog...

 

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Immanuel Allen had a nice catch during the series, but York's run game has been inconsistent this evening. Part of that can be the credit to that New Kent defensive front, anchored by Cincere Hicks and Payton Williamson.

 

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The New Kent drive starts at their own 6, but they have been very effective and workmanlike on the drive.

 

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Best run of the night for Batkins by far as he got to the outside, ripped away from a potential tackle and gave his team the lead. New Kent's ground game and line play has been the difference in this one.

Can York respond? It might take the passing game to get it done.

 

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The QB missed Immanuel Allen open in the flat on that pass and instead went for a deep shot instead.

Ever since that goal-line stand, things have swung completely to New Kent as far as making the big plays.

Coach McCauley can now burn some clock with their running game, mixing Christian on keepers up the middle and getting Batkins to the outside.

 

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After the combo of Joe Batkins and Khoen Christian combined for 122 yards on their first 19 rushes, the York defense makes a key stand on 3rd & 1 from the 35. So New Kent, facing 4th & 2, from their own 34, punts it away. Strangely, they kick it to the electric Brian Burks.

Burks returns it 18 yards to the New Kent 45, where York will have it with 5:29 to go.

 

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New Kent will run it down to under 3 minutes to play in regulation before a quick screen to Josiah Reedy on 3rd & 8 from their own 30 gains 6. Credit Shamarius Whitby with the tackle. On 4th & 2, a bad snap results in a loss of 2 as Anthony Artis makes the huge tackle for York.

So with 2:16 to go, down 14-7 to New Kent, the York Falcons still have a chance in this one at the Trojans 34, despite two interceptions thrown in this period. The last one came in the flat.

After a 2-yard gain, the Falcons go to the air on 2nd & 8 from the 32 and Nate Wagner is nearly picked off again by Jon Campbell, who leaps up for it, but is unable to come down with it to the gruond.

 

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New Kent's Seth Bayens sacks Nate Wagner on 3rd & 8 with 1:19 to go, dropping him for a loss of 10.

On 4th & 18 from the New Kent 42, an illegal formation flag is thrown on York. The Trojans decline it and will run out the clock to secure their first win over York since 2018 when they prevailed 42-35. They'll now cut the all-time lead in the series for York to 15-11.

A giant win for John McCauley's Trojans to halt a three-game losing streak with a couple of key players out as well.

 

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More to come later...