It might have been the final regular season game of the season for both schools but on this night, at Hermitage, it felt more like a playoff game. Two teams coming into this one with 9-0 records and even though both will play next week, someone was going to benefit from winning this one.
The Rebels first possession of the night would be indicative of the way the night would unfold for them. The Hermitage defense would force them into a three and out from the start. Hermitage on the other hand with good field position was able to put several plays together with a combination of Justin Hall running the ball and Eli Odom throwing it around to get the Panthers in the endzone first. That touchdown came when Odom hit Ty Bates on a three-yard pass on third down. Freeman answered back or at least it appeared they would was they put together a bit of a drive themselves from their own 25 but after getting to the Hermitage 25 the Panthers defense buckled down and three Laughlin incompletions saw the Rebels take the field for a 42-yard field goal that would be blocked by Kaimire Hodge.
Hermitage however fared poorly on their second possession of the night and Odom was nearly picked off by Dominic Elyarado. That and penalties would be a common theme for the Panthers in the first half. While Hermitage struggled with penalties and trying to avoid turnovers the Rebels would struggle to score, let alone do anything on offense. Anytime it seemed the Panthers had something going, they would stall on offense or the Panthers defense would tighten up.
While Elyarado nearly had some turnovers off of Odom, Will Adams of Hermitage did get an interception, the only turnover for Trey Laughlin on this night. An interesting play in the second quarter, Hermitage with their first possession of the quarter, Odom scooped up a low exchanged ball and put it in the air and Murphy & Elyarado collided with neither coming up with the ball… A relief to Hermitage fans.
There weren’t many bright spots for the Rebels offense in the first half but Bodhie Long came up with a fantastic catch when Laughlin zeroed in on him with a pass and Long nearly ran past the ball in the air but turned around just at the right moment to snag it from behind. As fantastic of a catch as it was, the play was negated by a holding call against Freeman.
Closing in on halftime, it appeared the game might be just 7-0 but that would not be the case. Instead, faced with a 4 & 22 from their own 35, the Panthers went for gusto with a pass from Odom to the endzone. In said endzone was a handful of Panthers and Rebels and all went up for the ball and it bobbled around in the air but in the end it was Panther touchdown to put them up 14-0 in what had been a closely fought game on the scoreboard but clearly in favor of the Panthers.
Hermitage opened the second half with the ball but that first possession didn’t fare so well as Zach Carter intercepted Eli Odom which I’ve been told is only the second time he has been intercepted this season. Odom was hit as he released the ball as well and it appeared he had the wind taken out of him but he walked it off and was good to go. The Panthers early second half misfortune continued when they were hit with a roughing the passer call which Kane felt strongly against but to no avail against the refs.
The offensive struggles for Freeman continued in the second half so it was up to the defense and special teams to keep the Rebels in the game. A punt from Freeman pinned the Panthers back at their own 5 yard line but it did not seem to matter. The Panthers methodically worked down the field and overcame penalties in the process while wearing down the defense of Freeman as well. The Panthers moved the ball to the 21 of Freeman when Odom threw his third touchdown of the night, it would be Ty Bates second touchdown of the night. It seemed Bates would be tackled along the right sideline but a little move here, a little move there and Bates was able to avoid a tackle and find the endzone. The game was beginning to get away from Freeman although scoreless, I guess you could say the game had been getting away from them.
Freeman would never get another first down on this night, the Rebels defense turned it on the in fourth quarter and while the defense was turning it on, the offense was putting the game to rest themselves. The two worked in unison for the win, the Rebels began their next to last possession of the night from their own 16 yard line and on the first play got to the 23 before a 2-yard run to give the Rebels a 3rd & 1 at the 25. All the Rebels needed was a yard and they would be able to extend the drive but it wasn’t happening. Ned Mize couldn’t get it on third down, the Rebels were faced with 4th and inches. This is a situation that you never know what you will do until you are there in the moment.
Do you punt in the fourth quarter, down by three scores? Do you go for it, just inches from a first down? The Rebels chose to go for it and Hermitage held! That proved to be a bad move for the Rebels as two plays later the Panthers were back in the endzone, this time it was Odom running for a touchdown as opposed to throwing a touchdown. That made it a 28-0 game with 3:42 to go, the game was now in hand for Hermitage.
With the win, the Panthers complete and undefeated season and it appears they will be the second seed in the 5A-South Sub-Sectional playoff while Freeman appears to be a 4th seed and will host Lee-Davis as it looks at this time. While the score indicates a bit of a blowout, this game was anything but. It honestly came down to missed opportunities for Freeman. A different first half for the Rebels and this game could have been closer.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter-
8:51- Eli Odom 3-yard touchdown pass to Ty Bates, PAT good; Hermitage 7-0.
2nd Quarter-
0:00- Eli Odom 35-yard touchdown pass to Christian Velasquez; PAT good; Hermitage 14-0.
3rd Quarter-
4th Quarter-
9:58- Eli Odom 21-yard touchdown pass to Ty Bates, PAT good; Hermitage 21-0.
3:42- Eli Odom 21-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Hermitage 28-0.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Early on in this one the game was in doubt… Up until the end of the first half, the Panthers led only 7-0. A big fourth quarter was the difference maker but penalties could have very easily cost the Panthers this game. Six flags called against Hermitage in the first half helped to keep Freeman in this game, compared to that of Freeman’s one flag. The same can be said for the third quarter where Hermitage was penalized five times compared to that of twice for Freeman. Compare that to the fourth quarter where Freeman was penalized twice, Hermitage just once but in that fourth quarter they scored twice. Their least penalized quarter was their most productive from the standpoint of scoring as they began to pull away from Freeman.
For Freeman it comes down to missed opportunities… Especially early in the game. For example, with 4:55 to the Rebels attempted a field goal only to have it blocked by Kamire Hodge. On the following possession for the Panthers, Dominic Elyarado nearly intercepted na Eli Odom pass. Early on in the second quarter Elyarado had another chance for a pick but he and Luke Murphy collided going for the ball with neither coming up with it. Still in the second quarter, Elyarado again had a chance for a pick and again failed to come up with it, dropping the Eli Odom pass that hit him in the chest. Another missed opportunity came within that second quarter when another Odom pass was contested by Nasir Hines and a Freeman defender. Hines was able to come away with the ball which ultimately led to the Hail Mary pass to put them up 14-0. That first half with the game very much in doubt, if the Rebels could have snagged any of those almost interceptions, it very well could have changed the complexion of the game.
Fourth quarter was big for the Panthers winningg this game. Not only did they limit their penalty count that had plagued them for much of the game but they also scored twice in that fourth quarter to put a 14-0 game when the fourth quarter started out of reach. Not only did the offense came through but so did the defense. The Panthers defense forced the Rebels to three and out on all three fourth quarter possessions’. Hermitage’s defense also came up with two big stops with the Rebels facing 3rd & 1 and 4th and inches… When it counted in the fourth quarter, the Panthers came through.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Eli Odom didn’t have the monster game that we have become accustomed to this season but he was no doubt a difference maker for the Panthers on this night. Eli threw two touchdowns in the first half to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead. The second of those touchdowns was quite amazing considering the number of Rebels and Panthers in the endzone on the Hail Mary pass. If that wasn’t enough, Odom threw another touchdown in the fourth quarter in addition to a 21-yard touchdown run. Odom’s night ended with 230 yards of offense completing 14 of his 24 passes.
The Rebels defense kept the Rebels in the game for much of the game, till the fourth quarter that is. Multiple defenders came up with big plays for the Rebels but no one made as many plays as the Murphy Brothers of Sam and Luke. Sam Murphy came up with 11 tackles, I lost count on Luke Murphy. The two made it very difficult for three quarters of the game for Hermitage to get anything going on offense.
EXTRA POINTS
This was my first Douglas Freeman game since they played Varina in the 2000 season.
With another perfect regular season, this marks the eighth season in Kane’s 15 seasons as coach of Hermitage that the Panthers have finished a season 10-0.
First shutout of Freeman by Hermitage since the 2011 season which ironically enough was the last time Freeman was shutout.
Sixth time in seven season Hermitage has posted three or more shutouts in a season.
The Rebels first possession of the night would be indicative of the way the night would unfold for them. The Hermitage defense would force them into a three and out from the start. Hermitage on the other hand with good field position was able to put several plays together with a combination of Justin Hall running the ball and Eli Odom throwing it around to get the Panthers in the endzone first. That touchdown came when Odom hit Ty Bates on a three-yard pass on third down. Freeman answered back or at least it appeared they would was they put together a bit of a drive themselves from their own 25 but after getting to the Hermitage 25 the Panthers defense buckled down and three Laughlin incompletions saw the Rebels take the field for a 42-yard field goal that would be blocked by Kaimire Hodge.
Hermitage however fared poorly on their second possession of the night and Odom was nearly picked off by Dominic Elyarado. That and penalties would be a common theme for the Panthers in the first half. While Hermitage struggled with penalties and trying to avoid turnovers the Rebels would struggle to score, let alone do anything on offense. Anytime it seemed the Panthers had something going, they would stall on offense or the Panthers defense would tighten up.
While Elyarado nearly had some turnovers off of Odom, Will Adams of Hermitage did get an interception, the only turnover for Trey Laughlin on this night. An interesting play in the second quarter, Hermitage with their first possession of the quarter, Odom scooped up a low exchanged ball and put it in the air and Murphy & Elyarado collided with neither coming up with the ball… A relief to Hermitage fans.
There weren’t many bright spots for the Rebels offense in the first half but Bodhie Long came up with a fantastic catch when Laughlin zeroed in on him with a pass and Long nearly ran past the ball in the air but turned around just at the right moment to snag it from behind. As fantastic of a catch as it was, the play was negated by a holding call against Freeman.
Closing in on halftime, it appeared the game might be just 7-0 but that would not be the case. Instead, faced with a 4 & 22 from their own 35, the Panthers went for gusto with a pass from Odom to the endzone. In said endzone was a handful of Panthers and Rebels and all went up for the ball and it bobbled around in the air but in the end it was Panther touchdown to put them up 14-0 in what had been a closely fought game on the scoreboard but clearly in favor of the Panthers.
Hermitage opened the second half with the ball but that first possession didn’t fare so well as Zach Carter intercepted Eli Odom which I’ve been told is only the second time he has been intercepted this season. Odom was hit as he released the ball as well and it appeared he had the wind taken out of him but he walked it off and was good to go. The Panthers early second half misfortune continued when they were hit with a roughing the passer call which Kane felt strongly against but to no avail against the refs.
The offensive struggles for Freeman continued in the second half so it was up to the defense and special teams to keep the Rebels in the game. A punt from Freeman pinned the Panthers back at their own 5 yard line but it did not seem to matter. The Panthers methodically worked down the field and overcame penalties in the process while wearing down the defense of Freeman as well. The Panthers moved the ball to the 21 of Freeman when Odom threw his third touchdown of the night, it would be Ty Bates second touchdown of the night. It seemed Bates would be tackled along the right sideline but a little move here, a little move there and Bates was able to avoid a tackle and find the endzone. The game was beginning to get away from Freeman although scoreless, I guess you could say the game had been getting away from them.
Freeman would never get another first down on this night, the Rebels defense turned it on the in fourth quarter and while the defense was turning it on, the offense was putting the game to rest themselves. The two worked in unison for the win, the Rebels began their next to last possession of the night from their own 16 yard line and on the first play got to the 23 before a 2-yard run to give the Rebels a 3rd & 1 at the 25. All the Rebels needed was a yard and they would be able to extend the drive but it wasn’t happening. Ned Mize couldn’t get it on third down, the Rebels were faced with 4th and inches. This is a situation that you never know what you will do until you are there in the moment.
Do you punt in the fourth quarter, down by three scores? Do you go for it, just inches from a first down? The Rebels chose to go for it and Hermitage held! That proved to be a bad move for the Rebels as two plays later the Panthers were back in the endzone, this time it was Odom running for a touchdown as opposed to throwing a touchdown. That made it a 28-0 game with 3:42 to go, the game was now in hand for Hermitage.
With the win, the Panthers complete and undefeated season and it appears they will be the second seed in the 5A-South Sub-Sectional playoff while Freeman appears to be a 4th seed and will host Lee-Davis as it looks at this time. While the score indicates a bit of a blowout, this game was anything but. It honestly came down to missed opportunities for Freeman. A different first half for the Rebels and this game could have been closer.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter-
8:51- Eli Odom 3-yard touchdown pass to Ty Bates, PAT good; Hermitage 7-0.
2nd Quarter-
0:00- Eli Odom 35-yard touchdown pass to Christian Velasquez; PAT good; Hermitage 14-0.
3rd Quarter-
4th Quarter-
9:58- Eli Odom 21-yard touchdown pass to Ty Bates, PAT good; Hermitage 21-0.
3:42- Eli Odom 21-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Hermitage 28-0.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Early on in this one the game was in doubt… Up until the end of the first half, the Panthers led only 7-0. A big fourth quarter was the difference maker but penalties could have very easily cost the Panthers this game. Six flags called against Hermitage in the first half helped to keep Freeman in this game, compared to that of Freeman’s one flag. The same can be said for the third quarter where Hermitage was penalized five times compared to that of twice for Freeman. Compare that to the fourth quarter where Freeman was penalized twice, Hermitage just once but in that fourth quarter they scored twice. Their least penalized quarter was their most productive from the standpoint of scoring as they began to pull away from Freeman.
For Freeman it comes down to missed opportunities… Especially early in the game. For example, with 4:55 to the Rebels attempted a field goal only to have it blocked by Kamire Hodge. On the following possession for the Panthers, Dominic Elyarado nearly intercepted na Eli Odom pass. Early on in the second quarter Elyarado had another chance for a pick but he and Luke Murphy collided going for the ball with neither coming up with it. Still in the second quarter, Elyarado again had a chance for a pick and again failed to come up with it, dropping the Eli Odom pass that hit him in the chest. Another missed opportunity came within that second quarter when another Odom pass was contested by Nasir Hines and a Freeman defender. Hines was able to come away with the ball which ultimately led to the Hail Mary pass to put them up 14-0. That first half with the game very much in doubt, if the Rebels could have snagged any of those almost interceptions, it very well could have changed the complexion of the game.
Fourth quarter was big for the Panthers winningg this game. Not only did they limit their penalty count that had plagued them for much of the game but they also scored twice in that fourth quarter to put a 14-0 game when the fourth quarter started out of reach. Not only did the offense came through but so did the defense. The Panthers defense forced the Rebels to three and out on all three fourth quarter possessions’. Hermitage’s defense also came up with two big stops with the Rebels facing 3rd & 1 and 4th and inches… When it counted in the fourth quarter, the Panthers came through.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Eli Odom didn’t have the monster game that we have become accustomed to this season but he was no doubt a difference maker for the Panthers on this night. Eli threw two touchdowns in the first half to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead. The second of those touchdowns was quite amazing considering the number of Rebels and Panthers in the endzone on the Hail Mary pass. If that wasn’t enough, Odom threw another touchdown in the fourth quarter in addition to a 21-yard touchdown run. Odom’s night ended with 230 yards of offense completing 14 of his 24 passes.
The Rebels defense kept the Rebels in the game for much of the game, till the fourth quarter that is. Multiple defenders came up with big plays for the Rebels but no one made as many plays as the Murphy Brothers of Sam and Luke. Sam Murphy came up with 11 tackles, I lost count on Luke Murphy. The two made it very difficult for three quarters of the game for Hermitage to get anything going on offense.
EXTRA POINTS
This was my first Douglas Freeman game since they played Varina in the 2000 season.
With another perfect regular season, this marks the eighth season in Kane’s 15 seasons as coach of Hermitage that the Panthers have finished a season 10-0.
First shutout of Freeman by Hermitage since the 2011 season which ironically enough was the last time Freeman was shutout.
Sixth time in seven season Hermitage has posted three or more shutouts in a season.
