You cannot emphasize how huge this game was… This morning as I was preparing myself to attend the game I was seeing posts on social media where there were already people in the parking lot tailgating at 10 AM… The fans going back and forth all week long with the trash talk, it was finally time to settle this thing. I rolled in about 11:45 and fans were already in the stands but by the time the game started, the house was literally packed. Whereas before the game they were telling fans to not stand along the fence, by mid-first quarter you had no choice but to stand along the fence and even there it was two and three people deep.
The Panthers had won the last four meetings in the playoffs but only two of those wins came at Highland Springs. That did not seem to matter to Suliaman Kamara who jacked up for this one along the sidelines. He could be heard yelling “this is our house, we own this place” to get his teammates as fired up as he was and it seemed to have paid off early.
After Hermitage held Highland Springs to just six yards and a 3 & out on their first possession of the game, the Panthers marched 56 yards to the endzone. That first touchdown of the game was not without some theatrics with a pass on 2nd & 6 along the Springer sideline that had their coaches leaping in the air and players feeling they had intercepted but the refs did not see it their way. The Panthers were also faced with a 3rd & 11 when Odom hit Kaimire Hodge with a 10 yard pass as Hodge leaped in the air for it. Kamara who rallied the troops all game long also paved the way for the Panthers first touchdown of the game as Odom followed into the endzone from one yard out.
The Springers would not trail for long as K’Von Wallace would race 79 yards down field with the kick return to tie the game in a matter of 17 seconds! Just like the Springer Nation was in complete jubilation. On the next three possessions neither team managed much, both teams going 3 & out but it was on the Springers fourth possession that the Springers would take the lead. From their own 39 yard line the Springers would work the ball down field capped off by a 29-yard touchdown run from DJ Anderson at the 2:21 mark that gave the Springers a 14-7 lead.
Hermitage thought they might something going on their next possession but Lee Dilworth put an end to that with a sack of Eli Odom. Odom had run for 10 yards and passed for another 7 but he could not escape Dilworth on this play that effectively killed the possession. The Panthers would punt but the Springers Davante Cain would come up with a huge block and returned it for a score. Just like that, not even a minute into the second quarter the Springers had themselves a 21-7 lead.
Hermitage would not go down without a fight and neither would Justin Hall for that matter as he fought for every yard on a 14 yard run on the Panthers next possession pulling from this defender and that defender. Odom himself would pickup 15 yards but Odom would also find himself sacked and the Panthers possession was also hurt by an unsportsman like penalty.
Whereas things seemed to be going south for the Panthers, the Springers seemed to be unstoppable as for a third straight time the Springers would hit the endzone, this time with a 3-yard touchdown run from DJ Anderson. That touchdown was made possible by a Juwan Carter-to-Greg Dotch pass for 34 yards along the sideline. With 7:30 to go in the first half, the Springers now had themselves a 28-7 but that wouldn’t stand for long. No, Hermitage would not score but it would be the Springers yet again when K’Von Wallace intercepted a Herm pass after the ball came off of Ty Bates one hand pass reception attempt. With the 29-yard interception return, the Springers had a 35-7 lead with less than seven to go in the half. It clearly seemed as if this would be the Springers day.
The Panthers fumbled the kickoff return and Bryan Epps would recover… Could the Springers put this one away on another score? That would a no. With the ball at the Hermitage 33 Will Adams almost intercepted Carter’s pass but while he did at least breakup the pass. The two teams were starting to get a little chippy on the field, Hermitage clearly frustrated with the first half of action. Dominick Thornton came through for the defense of Hermitage when he sacked Juwan Carter for a big loss and just like that, the Panthers were able to shutdown the Springers for the first time since the first quarter. To give even more hope to the Panthers, from their own 20, the Panthers had to overcome a 1st & 19 from their own 32 but they did it. On a third down play Odom hit Bates with a 56 yard touchdown pass as Bates escaped tackles in an effort to get in the endzone and it paid off. The PAT failed but the Panthers had at least trimmed a little off, now trailing 13-35 with 2:46 to go in the half.
After allowing 35 points in the first half, the Panthers defense forced the Springers to 3 & out giving their offense another shot before the half. After nearly fumbling the ball away, the Panthers put several quick passes together to get the ball to the Springer 24 but things took a turn when Tavien Blackwell got to Odom and as Odom is going down he throws the ball towards the home stands… Called for intentional grounding, the Panthers were pushed back but they fought back to a 3rd & 7 where Odom would put a pass to the endzone as time expires in the half but the pass would be broken up.
To open the third quarter, the Panthers continued where they finished the second half, attempting a comeback and in 63 yards the comeback was definitely on. The Panthers in spite of a fumble and penalties persevered with Odom’s 6-yard touchdown at the 8:51 mark to get a step closer, 35-20. The Panther defense continued to cause problems for the Springers as did penalties. As the third quarter was coming to a close the Panthers were again driving, Odom amassed 28 yards himself on the drive including the 1-yard leap into the endzone with a little over two minutes to go. With a two-point conversion good, the Panthers were down just a touchdown.
Whereas the first half of action had seen a lot possessions for both teams, the third quarter saw the Springers with the ball just once and the Panthers with the ball just twice. The momentum clearly on the side of Hermtiage, could this game be building towards another overtime like the first meeting to start the season? The tension was building in stadium amongst the teams and all those in attendance.
The Springers were driving, having began with the ball on the 36 they had moved the ball to the Hermitage 15 but a personal foul call against Highland Springs pushed them back to the 30. On the very next play Will Adams intercepted the pass. Hermitage however could not capitalize and they would give it right back 3 & out.
Highland Springs had another promising drive going despite Kaelin Snead breaking up a first down pass. On the very next play DJ Anderson would bust off a 52-yard run. The ball at the 9 yard line, a score appeared imminent, especially when a penalty put the Springers on the 1 yard line but the snap was fumbled and Hermitage recovered it thus keeping the comeback alive.
With another score that is exactly what Hermitage had done. From their own 10 yard line the Panthers put together a long drive that saw Odom passing to Bates for a 17-yard pickup and also running off 23 yards himself on this possession including a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:42 to go! With the PAT the game was tied after the Panthers had been down 35-7.
With little time left to get much done, the Springers went to work. From their 31 yard line the Springers executed two plays for a first down and on the very next play Chris DeBerry came up with a broken pass but on the next play the pass from Carter was completed to K’Von Wallace with Kinney wrapping him up at the 45, a yard short of the first. Carter could not get the first, not with the Panther defense wrapping him up for no gain so it came down to 4th & 1! Panthers come up with a stop and we head to overtime but it would not come to that as Carter would hit Dortch “the Torch” as his is referred to for a pickup of 6 yards to the 39 inching closer to field goal range. The Springers then went to the playbook for a trick play, the old hook and ladder that resulted in a pickup of 26 yards to the 13 of Hermitage! The very next play, Carter threw his first touchdown of the game to James Jackson! The ensuing PAT put the Springers up 42-35 with 9.2 seconds to go! You could see the energy on the Panther side sucked right out of them and the Springers side came to life in one loud roar!
Enough time to pull off a play or two but not enough time to comeback once more, the Panthers dropped their first game of the season ending their season. The sidelines of Highland Springs was electric as the players stormed the field, coaches jumping in the air celebrating the biggest win in 25 years for Highland Springs. Hermitage however left the field hurting… To have comeback so far from where they had been early in the game and to see it go just like that…
At 12-1, the Panthers once more fail to reach the state semifinals but for the Springers, not only do they advance but they will now host Indian River on Saturday with a trip to Charlottesville on the line.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
7:47- Eli Odom 1-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Hermitage 7-0.
7:30- K’Von Wallace 79-yard kickoff return, PAT good; 7-7 tie.
2:21- DJ Anderson 29-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 14-7.
2nd Quarter-
11:52- Davante Cain blocked punt return for touchdown PAT good; Highland Springs 21-7.
7:30- DJ Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 28-7.
6:51- K’Von Wallace 29-yard interception return, PAT good; Highland Springs 35-7.
2:46- 56-yard touchdown pass from Eli Odom to Ty Bates, PAT fail; Highland Springs 35-13.
3rd Quarter-
8:51- Eli Odom 6-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 35-20.
2:39- Eli Odom 1-yard touchdown run, two-point conversion good; Highland Springs 35-28.
4th Quarter-
1:42- Eli Odom 2-yard touchdown run, PAT good; 35-35 tie.
9.2- 13-yard touchdown pass from Juwan Carter to James Jackson, PAT good; H. Springs 42-35.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Trick play all the way. If the game had gone to overtime, it’s possible the outcome would have been the same but then again maybe not. The Springers put that to rest however with the hook and ladder that put the Springers in position to score the game winning touchdown.
Eight minutes, four scores… Within 8 minutes the Springers piled it on to give themselves a 35-7 lead midway through the second half. Two touchdown runs, an interception return and a blocked punt return for a touchdown! The team was playing as complete an 8 minutes as one team with 28 points in that span while shutting out the Panthers.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
It is so very hard to single out one player on the Springers as there were so many contributing parties to this win today. That said, I’m going to single out one player who I felt made two big plays at the end to help the Springers to their first state semifinal in 25 years. Juwan Carter finished his day completing 17 of his 26 passes for 150 yards in the air but he did not score a touchdown till the very end. He first lateraled the ball to Deshawn Young and on the very next play he threw a 16-yard pass to James Jackson to put the Springers up 42-35 with 9.2 to go in the game. No bigger play was made then this touchdown to give the Springers the win.
No doubt about it, Eli Odom did all he could to extend the Panthers season… With 329 yards of offense on the day and five touchdowns, Eli Odom couldn’t have done much more than he did. There were a couple of short touchdown runs where Eli literally leaped over the pile or dove into the pile. There were also several plays where Eli was powering through the Springer defense on the run. Eli has had a sensational senior season and this game certainly mirrored his play all season, albeit the end result did not mirror the rest of the Panthers season.
EXTRA POINTS
Today’s game no doubt rivaled some of the Varina-Highland Springs matchups I’ve been to over the years. There wasn’t a seat to be had and nearing the end of the first quarter there was still a line coming into the game.
How packed was it? How about the visitor’s concession ran out of drinks by halftime.
First time in 25 years that Highland Springs is going to the state semifinals.
I was really taken back by the behavior of the Hermitage fan base. Several times Springers were on the field either shaken up or with a cramp or whatever and you could hear the Herm fans yelling get them off the field, carry his a** off the field, etc… I know it’s an intense game and fans get caught up in but that was a bit much. That said, I did question one incident in particular when a Springer player just seemed to drop right out of the blue on the field at a time when the Springer defense could have used a break as Hermitage offense was driving but you cannot be too careful with player safety in today’s climate of football.
While I do not touch on it in the summary of the game, penalties today were out of this world. Ironic given the article in the Times-Dispatch recently on the increase in penalties called. I lost count on just how many penalties there were but I believe it was close to 30!
The Panthers had won the last four meetings in the playoffs but only two of those wins came at Highland Springs. That did not seem to matter to Suliaman Kamara who jacked up for this one along the sidelines. He could be heard yelling “this is our house, we own this place” to get his teammates as fired up as he was and it seemed to have paid off early.
After Hermitage held Highland Springs to just six yards and a 3 & out on their first possession of the game, the Panthers marched 56 yards to the endzone. That first touchdown of the game was not without some theatrics with a pass on 2nd & 6 along the Springer sideline that had their coaches leaping in the air and players feeling they had intercepted but the refs did not see it their way. The Panthers were also faced with a 3rd & 11 when Odom hit Kaimire Hodge with a 10 yard pass as Hodge leaped in the air for it. Kamara who rallied the troops all game long also paved the way for the Panthers first touchdown of the game as Odom followed into the endzone from one yard out.
The Springers would not trail for long as K’Von Wallace would race 79 yards down field with the kick return to tie the game in a matter of 17 seconds! Just like the Springer Nation was in complete jubilation. On the next three possessions neither team managed much, both teams going 3 & out but it was on the Springers fourth possession that the Springers would take the lead. From their own 39 yard line the Springers would work the ball down field capped off by a 29-yard touchdown run from DJ Anderson at the 2:21 mark that gave the Springers a 14-7 lead.
Hermitage thought they might something going on their next possession but Lee Dilworth put an end to that with a sack of Eli Odom. Odom had run for 10 yards and passed for another 7 but he could not escape Dilworth on this play that effectively killed the possession. The Panthers would punt but the Springers Davante Cain would come up with a huge block and returned it for a score. Just like that, not even a minute into the second quarter the Springers had themselves a 21-7 lead.
Hermitage would not go down without a fight and neither would Justin Hall for that matter as he fought for every yard on a 14 yard run on the Panthers next possession pulling from this defender and that defender. Odom himself would pickup 15 yards but Odom would also find himself sacked and the Panthers possession was also hurt by an unsportsman like penalty.
Whereas things seemed to be going south for the Panthers, the Springers seemed to be unstoppable as for a third straight time the Springers would hit the endzone, this time with a 3-yard touchdown run from DJ Anderson. That touchdown was made possible by a Juwan Carter-to-Greg Dotch pass for 34 yards along the sideline. With 7:30 to go in the first half, the Springers now had themselves a 28-7 but that wouldn’t stand for long. No, Hermitage would not score but it would be the Springers yet again when K’Von Wallace intercepted a Herm pass after the ball came off of Ty Bates one hand pass reception attempt. With the 29-yard interception return, the Springers had a 35-7 lead with less than seven to go in the half. It clearly seemed as if this would be the Springers day.
The Panthers fumbled the kickoff return and Bryan Epps would recover… Could the Springers put this one away on another score? That would a no. With the ball at the Hermitage 33 Will Adams almost intercepted Carter’s pass but while he did at least breakup the pass. The two teams were starting to get a little chippy on the field, Hermitage clearly frustrated with the first half of action. Dominick Thornton came through for the defense of Hermitage when he sacked Juwan Carter for a big loss and just like that, the Panthers were able to shutdown the Springers for the first time since the first quarter. To give even more hope to the Panthers, from their own 20, the Panthers had to overcome a 1st & 19 from their own 32 but they did it. On a third down play Odom hit Bates with a 56 yard touchdown pass as Bates escaped tackles in an effort to get in the endzone and it paid off. The PAT failed but the Panthers had at least trimmed a little off, now trailing 13-35 with 2:46 to go in the half.
After allowing 35 points in the first half, the Panthers defense forced the Springers to 3 & out giving their offense another shot before the half. After nearly fumbling the ball away, the Panthers put several quick passes together to get the ball to the Springer 24 but things took a turn when Tavien Blackwell got to Odom and as Odom is going down he throws the ball towards the home stands… Called for intentional grounding, the Panthers were pushed back but they fought back to a 3rd & 7 where Odom would put a pass to the endzone as time expires in the half but the pass would be broken up.
To open the third quarter, the Panthers continued where they finished the second half, attempting a comeback and in 63 yards the comeback was definitely on. The Panthers in spite of a fumble and penalties persevered with Odom’s 6-yard touchdown at the 8:51 mark to get a step closer, 35-20. The Panther defense continued to cause problems for the Springers as did penalties. As the third quarter was coming to a close the Panthers were again driving, Odom amassed 28 yards himself on the drive including the 1-yard leap into the endzone with a little over two minutes to go. With a two-point conversion good, the Panthers were down just a touchdown.
Whereas the first half of action had seen a lot possessions for both teams, the third quarter saw the Springers with the ball just once and the Panthers with the ball just twice. The momentum clearly on the side of Hermtiage, could this game be building towards another overtime like the first meeting to start the season? The tension was building in stadium amongst the teams and all those in attendance.
The Springers were driving, having began with the ball on the 36 they had moved the ball to the Hermitage 15 but a personal foul call against Highland Springs pushed them back to the 30. On the very next play Will Adams intercepted the pass. Hermitage however could not capitalize and they would give it right back 3 & out.
Highland Springs had another promising drive going despite Kaelin Snead breaking up a first down pass. On the very next play DJ Anderson would bust off a 52-yard run. The ball at the 9 yard line, a score appeared imminent, especially when a penalty put the Springers on the 1 yard line but the snap was fumbled and Hermitage recovered it thus keeping the comeback alive.
With another score that is exactly what Hermitage had done. From their own 10 yard line the Panthers put together a long drive that saw Odom passing to Bates for a 17-yard pickup and also running off 23 yards himself on this possession including a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:42 to go! With the PAT the game was tied after the Panthers had been down 35-7.
With little time left to get much done, the Springers went to work. From their 31 yard line the Springers executed two plays for a first down and on the very next play Chris DeBerry came up with a broken pass but on the next play the pass from Carter was completed to K’Von Wallace with Kinney wrapping him up at the 45, a yard short of the first. Carter could not get the first, not with the Panther defense wrapping him up for no gain so it came down to 4th & 1! Panthers come up with a stop and we head to overtime but it would not come to that as Carter would hit Dortch “the Torch” as his is referred to for a pickup of 6 yards to the 39 inching closer to field goal range. The Springers then went to the playbook for a trick play, the old hook and ladder that resulted in a pickup of 26 yards to the 13 of Hermitage! The very next play, Carter threw his first touchdown of the game to James Jackson! The ensuing PAT put the Springers up 42-35 with 9.2 seconds to go! You could see the energy on the Panther side sucked right out of them and the Springers side came to life in one loud roar!
Enough time to pull off a play or two but not enough time to comeback once more, the Panthers dropped their first game of the season ending their season. The sidelines of Highland Springs was electric as the players stormed the field, coaches jumping in the air celebrating the biggest win in 25 years for Highland Springs. Hermitage however left the field hurting… To have comeback so far from where they had been early in the game and to see it go just like that…
At 12-1, the Panthers once more fail to reach the state semifinals but for the Springers, not only do they advance but they will now host Indian River on Saturday with a trip to Charlottesville on the line.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
7:47- Eli Odom 1-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Hermitage 7-0.
7:30- K’Von Wallace 79-yard kickoff return, PAT good; 7-7 tie.
2:21- DJ Anderson 29-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 14-7.
2nd Quarter-
11:52- Davante Cain blocked punt return for touchdown PAT good; Highland Springs 21-7.
7:30- DJ Anderson 3-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 28-7.
6:51- K’Von Wallace 29-yard interception return, PAT good; Highland Springs 35-7.
2:46- 56-yard touchdown pass from Eli Odom to Ty Bates, PAT fail; Highland Springs 35-13.
3rd Quarter-
8:51- Eli Odom 6-yard touchdown run, PAT good; Highland Springs 35-20.
2:39- Eli Odom 1-yard touchdown run, two-point conversion good; Highland Springs 35-28.
4th Quarter-
1:42- Eli Odom 2-yard touchdown run, PAT good; 35-35 tie.
9.2- 13-yard touchdown pass from Juwan Carter to James Jackson, PAT good; H. Springs 42-35.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Trick play all the way. If the game had gone to overtime, it’s possible the outcome would have been the same but then again maybe not. The Springers put that to rest however with the hook and ladder that put the Springers in position to score the game winning touchdown.
Eight minutes, four scores… Within 8 minutes the Springers piled it on to give themselves a 35-7 lead midway through the second half. Two touchdown runs, an interception return and a blocked punt return for a touchdown! The team was playing as complete an 8 minutes as one team with 28 points in that span while shutting out the Panthers.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
It is so very hard to single out one player on the Springers as there were so many contributing parties to this win today. That said, I’m going to single out one player who I felt made two big plays at the end to help the Springers to their first state semifinal in 25 years. Juwan Carter finished his day completing 17 of his 26 passes for 150 yards in the air but he did not score a touchdown till the very end. He first lateraled the ball to Deshawn Young and on the very next play he threw a 16-yard pass to James Jackson to put the Springers up 42-35 with 9.2 to go in the game. No bigger play was made then this touchdown to give the Springers the win.
No doubt about it, Eli Odom did all he could to extend the Panthers season… With 329 yards of offense on the day and five touchdowns, Eli Odom couldn’t have done much more than he did. There were a couple of short touchdown runs where Eli literally leaped over the pile or dove into the pile. There were also several plays where Eli was powering through the Springer defense on the run. Eli has had a sensational senior season and this game certainly mirrored his play all season, albeit the end result did not mirror the rest of the Panthers season.
EXTRA POINTS
Today’s game no doubt rivaled some of the Varina-Highland Springs matchups I’ve been to over the years. There wasn’t a seat to be had and nearing the end of the first quarter there was still a line coming into the game.
How packed was it? How about the visitor’s concession ran out of drinks by halftime.
First time in 25 years that Highland Springs is going to the state semifinals.
I was really taken back by the behavior of the Hermitage fan base. Several times Springers were on the field either shaken up or with a cramp or whatever and you could hear the Herm fans yelling get them off the field, carry his a** off the field, etc… I know it’s an intense game and fans get caught up in but that was a bit much. That said, I did question one incident in particular when a Springer player just seemed to drop right out of the blue on the field at a time when the Springer defense could have used a break as Hermitage offense was driving but you cannot be too careful with player safety in today’s climate of football.
While I do not touch on it in the summary of the game, penalties today were out of this world. Ironic given the article in the Times-Dispatch recently on the increase in penalties called. I lost count on just how many penalties there were but I believe it was close to 30!
