Blog Game Blog - Phoebus 42, Hampton 6

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Greetings from Darling Stadium for Saturday afternoon football in the Peninsula District.

It's the Hampton Crabbers (3-0) taking on the Phoebus Phantoms (1-1) on this sunny September 21st in a matchup of longtime rivals. For many years, this has been considered the best rivalry in the state.

We'll have updates here and on Twitter @hatfieldsports as well as from @ReeseBecker

 

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Hampton begins with possession at their own 26. The starter at QB appears to be junior Teddy Watson, who sparked their comeback win over Warwick with a couple of long third down completions as well as a TD run.

Watson's first pass is incomplete. But on 2nd & 10, he is stripped by DT Kyrell McKinney and Phoebus DE Ibri Harrell recovers the pigskin.

Phoebus begins at the Hampton 17-yard line and we've only had 11 seconds gone by in this battle between rivals.

 

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The junior RB Anthony Turner of Phoebus has a positive gain on his first carry of the afternoon.



UVA has already offerd the Class of 2021 tailback for the Phantoms.

 

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The Phantoms waste no time cashing in on the game's first turnover.

Here's a look at the score from our sideline correspondent Reese Becker...

 

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The Crabbers change QB's from Teddy Watson to senior Max Pietrykowski, more of the established runner and veteran. They hand it off to Sean Hassell and he gets nothing. On 2nd & 10, the Crabbers end up going backwards with Austin Gilliam and Kyrell McKinney dropping Pietrykowski for a loss of 5. But on 3rd & 15, the Phantoms get hit with a personal foul to give the Crabbers a fresh set of downs.

Watson is back in at QB and he drops back to throw on 2nd & 8 from the 37 and his pass intend for Mad Max is incomplete, broken up by Corey Wilson. It was Wilson who earned Peninsula District Defensive Player of the Year honors a season ago. Watson looks to scramble on third down, but it's Ibri Harrell bringing him down short of the first down marker.

Hampton will punt it away from their own 40 as we tick under seven minutes to go in the opening stanza.

 

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The first pass of the afternoon by Phoebus QB Chris Daniels is deflected and picked off... let's see if Hampton can capitalize.

Hampton starts their third series of the day at their own 44. Regardless of who's in at QB, the blocking up front needs to be better than what we saw on the first two possessions.

 

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Phoebus and Hampton exchange penalties - a holding on the Crabbers and neutral zone infraction on the Phantoms. After a run of 7 by Teddy Watson and incomplete pass by Max Pietrykowski, it's Watson's turn to put the ball in the air. He goes deep down the field on third down, but PHoebus DB Jachai Gray is there to break up a potential long completion.

Following a Hampton punt, the Phantoms will start at their own 23 with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.

 

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The Phoebus drive started off great with a 25-yard run to the outside by junior tailback Anthony Turner. Penalties and some hard hits from the Hampton defense, including Samari Smith and Michael Davis up front, slowed things, until Daniels took matters into his own hands.

 

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The Phantoms have controlled the line of scrimmage for the most part and they are getting much more production of their running game, spearheaded by Anthony Turner. Each team has a turnover, but Phoebus cashed in on its takeaway thanks to better field position. No completions thus far. Daniels has been the most effective runner from the QB spot to no surprise, given the comeback he led a couple years ago.

 

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We were wondering who that receiver to step up in the passing game would be for Phoebus after All-State performer Barry Hargraves graduated and moved on to Delaware State. Sophomore Kymari Gray has shown signs and senior Zion Porter-Ervin (5-9, 166) just emerged with a clutch reception.

Hampton must get something going offensively or this can get away from them in a hurry.

 

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Corey Wilson, the reigning PD Defensive Player of the Year, just recorded his 3rd tackle of the day and 2nd on a return.

Hampton begins at its own 31 with 11:11 to go in the second period. Max Pietrykowski is back in at QB. I know it worked a week ago to an extent vs. Warwick, but the Crabbers probably need to settle on someone as the triggerman. So far the alternating hasn't worked too well for them.

 

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Hampton moves the chains on 3rd & 1 from their own 40 with Max Pietrykowski running up the middle for 3. That came following a pass interference penalty on 3rd & 16 for the Phantoms.

Austin Gilliam makes a tackle for loss for Phoebus, then it's Teddy Watson scrambling for 11 to set up a 4th & 4 for the Crabbers from their own 49.

Mike Smith of Hampton uses his second time-out with 8:16 to go in the opening half. As they get back out there for the fourth down play, Jeremy Blunt and company don't like what they see and use their first time-out of the half. So to call this play coming up an important one might be an understatement.

I won't use a time-out though because I have none. Thankfully this Minute Maid Fruit Punch I have in the booth is keeping me hydrated and refreshed.

 

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Well, we got another time-out! But Mike Smith is out for the half....



Typo - it was 4th & 4 by the way, not 49.

 

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Amazingly, Watson danced around in the pocket, threw what looked to be a wounded duck, yet there is a wide open Khalil Gunn - a two-sport standout who also excels in baseball - waiting to haul it in and run in for the touchdown.

 

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And when I say he leveled him on the 2-point pass folks, I mean, he absolutely unloaded. Wilson gets my vote for most physical player in this game to this point. Don't know if he's the most talented or best prospect for the next level. Can tell you that he's laying the wood out here today.

 

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Phoebus shows its mettle, answering the stunning Hampton TD with a 51-yard kickoff return courtesy of Anthony Turner to give them solid field position at the 36-yard line of the Crabbers.

The Phantoms then give him a breather and start to run it with Jaylen White, who picks up gains of 5, 16, 5 and 20 yards all the way down to the Hampton 2. The last of that came on a pitch to the left near the Phoebus sideline.

Hampton's defense holds tough on 1st & Goal and 2nd & Goal, the likes of Demarius Fox and Samari Smith helping stuff them. A big 3rd & Goal forthcoming...

 

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Coaches talk about answering a score with a score all the time. Jeremy Blunt probably couldn't be prouder with how his team showed their experience and Championship pedigree, not blinking after Hampton stunned them with a long touchdown strike through the air. Their combo of Jaylen White and Anthony Turner on the ground have been strong today, combining for 101 yards and a couple of scores on 16 attempts.

Let's give some love to the PHS o-line as well - Amir Chandler, Josiah Silver, Messiah Marrero, Austin Gilliam and Ibri Harrell. They've been pretty steady against a tough front four.

 

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Hampton begins their 5th series at their own 31. The Crabbers go with an empty formation look and it's Max Pietrykowski picking up a yard on a draw. Another empty look and now it's Teddy Watson running to the left sideline - Hampton's - and he picks up about 8. Watson gains 3 more and he finds Kalvin Bryant open for a gain of 8 on a curl.

Bryant has been open each of the last three plays, including on a seam route a play or two before. The Phoebus secondary better make sure they have him accounted for or it could be trouble.

Another pass breakup by Phantoms DB Jachai Gray brings up 2nd & 10, where Teddy Watson finds Mad Max on a stop route to the 40 of Phoebus, where he is met immediately by Trevon Hayes.

This is where using those time-outs hurt Hampton dearly. They now have 6 seconds left from the 39 of Phoebus before a 4th & 10.

 

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We'll have some numbers in a bit...

 

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Some numbers at the break...

Phoebus 21:
Anthony Turner - 8Car. 53Yds. TD; 51-yard kick return
Jaylen White - 8Car. 48Yds. TD
Chris Daniels - 1-3 for 13Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 4Car. 36Yds. TD
Zion Porter-Ervin - 1Rec. 13Yds.
Corey Wilons - 5 Solo Tackles, PBU
Josiah Silver - 4 Tackles (3 Solo)
Kyrell McKinney - 3 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks, Forced Fumble

Phantoms - 25 plays for 153 total yards (22 rushes for 140 yards; 1-3 for 13 pass yards, 1 intercept); 1 turnover; 5 penalties for 55 yards


Hampton 6:
Teddy Watson - 3-10 for 66Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio; 7Car. 26Yds.
Khalil Gunn - 1Rec. 51Yds. TD; 3 Solo Tackles
Kalvin Bryant - 1Rec. 8Yds.
Max Pietrykowski - 1Rec. 7Yds; 0-1 passing; 5Car. Minus 2Yds.
Michael Davis & Samari Smith - 4 Tackles apiece

Crabbers - 26 plays for 89 total yards (15 rushes for 23 yards, 1 lost fumble; 3-11 for 66 pass yards); 1 turnover; 3 penalties for 18 yards

 

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It's Phoebus football to begin the 2nd half, at their own 45. The Phantoms only attempted three passes in the first half in comparison to 24 runs. Why deviate from that if it's working? They continue to churn out yards on the ground with Anthony Turner and Jaylen White, combining for 21 yards on their first two attempts of the 3rd period.

It's reminiscent to me of the old New York Giants Thunder & Lightning combination of Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber. Of course, Phoebus fans will go back to around 2006 when they had the terrific tandem of Dennis Mathis and fullback Haroon Brown.

 

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The Phantoms are flexing their muscles today and that was a textbook drive to open the half.

With last night's stunner in the Bay Rivers District, where York ended Lafayette's 60-game league winning streak, Phoebus knows they are still in play for the top seed in the playoffs in Region 3A.

Hopewell and York may have something to say about it too, and then when you throw in the likes of Norcom, Petersburg and Booker T. Washington, it's a pretty loaded field we'll see come November.

 

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Gilliam has been active today with a tackle, stop for loss and a sack. He's also doubling as a starter on the offensive line at right guard.

A touchdown on this sequence coming up can pretty much put it away for Phoebus.

 

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Naval Academy commit Jaylen White rushes for 10 yards for Phoebus, but they go back 5 on a penalty. Chris Daniels attempts just his 5th pass of the contest and it's incomplete. His previous one this half was a 16-yard completion to Devontae White.

Demarius Fox steps up and saves the drive for Hampton with a tackle for a loss of 2 on Anthony Turner on 2nd & 5. The 3rd & 7 pass by Daniels is incomplete.

Looks like Phoebus will leave the offense on the field for 4th & 7 from the Hampton 32. And why not? They're in between field goal range and punt territory, comfortably up 28-6 with 5:30 left in the third period. Work on the passing game a bit I say.

 

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Phoebus had 3 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks in the first half. That's the first sack of the day for the Hampton defense, collapsing the pocket around Phantoms QB Chris Daniels.

 

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Appears that the Phoebus defense gets their 3rd sack of the afternoon with Austin Gilliam and talented junior edge rusher Trevion Stevenson combining for the stop behind the line of scrimmage. Stevenson is intriguing with his size and build. He has a lot of untapped potential.

To avoid a delay of game penalty (believe the Crabbers had 6 of those against Warwick a week ago), Hampton takes their first time-out of the second half with 4:16 remaining in the 3rd quarter. They're facing 2nd & 16 from their own 32.

 

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Gets my game ball as MVP if you ask me, although the likes of Jaylen White and Anthony Turner would be excellent candidates, too.

 

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A personal foul penalty means Phoebus will begin their 3rd series of the second half at their own 26 following a Hampton punt. The Phantoms now incorporate fullback Kimani Jacobs-Robinson in their three-pronged ground attack. After he bludgeons the defense for gains of 21 and 2 yards, the Phantoms go to the air and Devontae White makes his second reception worth 16 yards of the half.

Jaylen White picks up 7 yards to create 2nd & 3 as we tick under a minute left in this 3rd period. White needs 27 yards for 100 and Turner is 11 away from that same exact mark.

 

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That stat above pretty much tells the story here.

 

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A pretty solid 1-2 punch with Anthony Turner and Jaylen White. They have 177 yards on 27 carries, nearly equal distribution between them of touches and two touchdown rushes apiece.

 

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Former Hampton Crabbers defender Kyrell McKiney, now playing for the arch rival in Phoebus, has been a real force with 2.5 sacks. The Crabbers are looking at 2nd & 14 and it's Teddy Watson scooting out of bounds to get back those four yards.

One thing Hampton probably has to settle on moving forward is a regular QB. They've alternated all game between Watson and Max Pietrykowski, who also runs the ball and has seen time at WR. By switching back and forth, they've been unable to get in a rhythm offensively.

 

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Jaylen White has a 54-yard punt return TD called back on a penalty. But Phantoms will take over at the Hampton 28 with 1:49 to play.

The Phoebus defense has 6 sacks today with five different players registering a sack - multiple ones by Kyrell McKinney and Trevion Stevenson.

As my colleague Reese Becker just put it, "That Phoebus defense has lived in the Hampton backfield today."

Indeed.

 

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Final Stats:

Phoebus Phantoms 42: (2-1 Overall)
Chris Daniels - 5-11 for 78Yds. 0-1 TD/Int. ratio; 6Car. 28Yds. TD
Anthony Turner - 14Car. 97Yds. 2TD's
Jaylen White - 13Car. 80Yds. 2TD's; 1Rec. 12Yds.
Calvin Bunch - 2Car. 34Yds.
Kimani Jacobs-Robinson - 5Car. 28Yds. TD
Devontae White - 2Rec. 32Yds.
Kymari Gray - 1Rec. 21Yds.
Zion Porter-Ervin - 1Rec. 13Yds.
Corey Wilson - 9 Tackles (7 Solo), PBU
Kyrell McKinney - 5 Tackles (4 Solo), 2.5 Sacks, Forced Fumble
Jachai Gray - 3 Pass Breakups

Phantoms - 54 plays for 354 total yards (43 rushes for 276 yards, 1 lost fumble; 5-11 for 78 yards passing, 1 intercept); 6 Defensive Sacks; 2 turnovers; 9 penalties for 85 yards


Hampton Crabbers 6: (3-1 Overall)
Teddy Watson - 4-13 for 76Yds. 1-1 TD/Int. ratio; 12Car. 31Yds.
Khalil Gunn - 1Rec. 51Yds. TD; 5 Tackles (4 Solo)
Max Pietrykowski - 2Rec. 17Yds; 0-1 passing; 8Car. Minus 4Yds.
Kalvin Bryant - 1Rec. 8Yds; 3 Tackles (2 Solo)
Sean Hassell - 6 Tackles (3 Solo), INT, Fumble Recovery; 1Car. 0Yds.
Julian Williams - 6 Tackles (3 Solo), 1.5TFL
Kyrie Scott - 5 Solo Tackles
Michael Davis - 5 Tackles (3 Solo)

Crabbers - 39 plays for 97 total yards (24 rushes for 21 yards, 2 lost fumbles; 4-15 for 76 yards passing, 1 intercept); 1 Defensive Sack; 3 turnovers; 5 penalties for 24 yards

 

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Postgame Video Interview with Phoebus Coach Jeremy Blunt:

Phoebus Head Football Coach Jeremy Blunt chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Reese Becker and Matthew Hatfield following his team's 42-6 victory over the Hampton Crabbers at Darling Stadium on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Coach Blunt's Phantoms are now 2-1 overall as they out-gained the Crabbers 354-97 on the afternoon, registering six sacks and forcing three turnovers. Phoebus has won 13 of the past 16 head-to-head meetings with the Crabbers, including three in a row.

Next up for Phoebus is a September 27th date with Bethel, which has won three straight since its season-opening loss to Maury.



Postgame Video Interview with Phoebus LB Corey Wilson:

Phoebus LB Corey Wilson chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Reese Becker following a 42-6 win over Hampton on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Darling Stadium.

Wilson recorded 9 tackles (7 solo) as the Phantoms beat the Crabbers for the third straight year and 13th time in 16 meetings.

Phoebus improved to 2-1 overall before a matchup against city rival Bethel at Darling Stadium.



Postgame Video Interview with Phoebus RB Jaylen White:

Phoebus running back Jaylen White chats with VirginiaPreps.com's Reese Becker after his team's 42-6 win over Hampton at Darling Stadium on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Committed to the Naval Academy, White rushed for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 attempts as the Phantoms defeated Hampton for a third consecutive year.

They now have won 13 of the past 16 meetings. Phoebus sits at 2-1 overall before their take on Bethel (3-1) at Darling Stadium on September 27th.