Blog LIVE Game Blog: Salem-VB 28, Kempsville 14 - FINAL

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Greetings from steamy Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach as we kick off the 2024 Virginia High School Football season on this final Thursday night of August.

It's the Salem Sun Devils taking on the host Chiefs of Kempsville with our 6:30 PM EST kick-off showing 87 degrees, but a heat index of 97 (and in this pressbox minus AC, it feels like 107).
We'll have updates for you all here tonight on the LIVE Game Blog as well as through Twitter or 'X' as it is now known.

But before we get started, here's our mini preview with picks from earlier in the Tidewater Predictions article...

Salem-VB at Kempsville . . . Season openers have not been too kind to the Chiefs of Kempsville, who have dropped 13 of their last 14 with the lone breakthrough coming when they beat Cox 20-12 to start off the 2021 campaign. Salem had lost three in a row to the Chiefs until last year’s 13-7 victory. When these two get together, it’s generally a lower scoring matchup as the last time either put up more than 20 on the other was when the Sun Devils blanked Kempsville 42-0 in 2019. The key to this game could be what type of pass rush the Chiefs defense, headed up by LB Darryl Veal, can apply on Salem QB Jason ‘Scooter’ Williams, a Navy commit.

Matt Hatfield Says – Salem-VB 26-14
Coach Ed Young Says – Salem-VB 18-16

 

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Kempsville receives the ball to start and will begin at their own 35 after Salem kicks it out of bounds.

The pocket collapses on the first play as QB Chris Spence - known more for his talent as a defensive back (presently a UVA commit) - is sacked. On 2nd & 15 though, Spence makes an accurate throw down the near sideline to fellow senior Sawyer Whitemore, enough to move the sticks on a 16-yard gain.

Sophomore Robert Hughes Jr. rushes for 6 after Spence gains 8 and it's another first down, quickly into Salem territory. Not a bad start for Coach Daryl Cherry's Chiefs as they look a lot better and more in sync offensively than they did in their preseason scrimmage vs. Hampton a week ago.

 

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Salem begins its first possession at their own 32 with 9:11 to go in the first quarter and its initial play from the line of scrimmage is not a good one. Tailback Willie Moore - a newcomer from Grassfield - is dropped for a loss of 2 by Darryl Veal Jr. of Kempsville. Veal is one of the better linebackers in the Beach District to follow this year.

Then it's QB Jason 'Scooter' Williams, the Navy commit, taking matters into his own hands as he dashes right up the middle, virtually untouched, 70 yards to paydirt. Definitely showed the scooting ability there.

The extra point, however is blocked.

 

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Robert Hughes Jr. returns the ensuing kickoff 18 yards for Kempsville to its own 35, where they start their second offensive possession with 8:07 left in the opening stanza and ahead by one. Hughes then rushes to the outside on a toss for +4. C.J. Spence gains 4 on a QB keeper to bring up 3rd & 1 from their own 44.

Hughes busts free the middle of the defense for 11 yards to the Salem 45. Right now, both defenses are leaving plenty of daylight to work with, and the d-coordinators cannot be pleased with what they're seeing. After an incomplete pass, the Chiefs will use a time-out with 5:56 left in the first quarter.

 

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Out of the time-out, the play looks dead on 2nd & 10 for Kempsville, but QB Christopher 'C.J.' Spence turns nothing into something. It's a a gain of 8 to bring up a very manageable 3rd & 2. That's where Robert Hughes Jr. moves the stick on a run for +5.

Then comes the boom as Spence rolls to his left and launches to a wide open James Releford, V in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. What a start for the Kempsville offense.

 

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Starting their second series from their own 28-yard line with 4:58 to go in the first period, Salem goes back to the running game and Willie Moore breaks off a 65-yard run to the 7. He would've scored if not for the TD saving tackle by C.J. Spence.

A personal foul penalty on Kempsville moves them closer, half the distance to the goal, down to the 3.

Three straight runs by Salem - with Moore twice and one by Landstown transfer Isaiah Lovgren - end up getting stuffed. Really fine job by that Kempsville defensive front.

Coach Mark Hall III of Salem decides to leave the offense on the field for 4th & Goal from the 1.

 

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Scooter scores for the second time of the night and it's deadlocked at 14. Ironically that is with Salem - known for its stellar passing game and senior triggerman - having yet to attempt a pass. Go figure.

 

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Big play to end the opening quarter as Salem's defense generates the game's turnover.

Good field position for the Sun Devils on offense to try to take the lead.

 

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Salem is unable to do anything with the generous field position - going 3 & out. On the first play, QB Jason 'Scooter' Williams is sacked by Kempsville senior DE Jaylan McKenzie for a loss of 6. Following an incomplete that was Salem's first pass attempt of the night, Williams mishandles the shotgun snap and ends up throwing it away.

On the punt, Darryl Veal Jr. ends up tipping it and the Chiefs get pretty decent field position themselves at their own 39 with 10:40 left in the first half.

 

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Robert Hughes Jr. breaks off a run of 9, but it's near disaster for Kempsville on 2nd & 1 as LB Markus McCoy comes bearing down off the edge from the right side as he beat the right tackle with ease. On 3rd & 1, it's new QB Josh Hawley - a junior- completing it in the flat to Tyron Kellam, just enough to move the chains on a pickup of 4.

Two plays later, it's Hawley finding James Releford, V for a gain of 4 to bring up 3rd & 4. A snap and wrong direction on the run ends up in a negative play, losing 4 for Kempsville. That brings on the punting unit with it being 4th & 8 from the Sun Devils 46.

Excellent punt by junior Max Clatterbuck pins Salem at their own 6 with 6:37 to go in the first half.

 

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A time-out is used by Salem with 3:46 till half-time as the score is still tied at 14. The Sun Devils moved the chains on a 3rd & 2 when Willie Moore gained 4. The Sun Devils are trying to run to that left side, where 4-Star and Maryland commit Jaylen Gilchrist is blocking at left tackle. Gilchrist blocks out the sun at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds.

The Salem offense responds from QB Jason 'Scooter' Williams being sacked by Lahai Massaquoi. Williams finds Jack Strother on one side of the field for a huge gain of 15 on 3rd & 12. Two plays later, it's Williams hitting Howard University commit Fabian Wells for 12 yards along the far sideline.

But right near midfield, Salem gets called for a crucial holding penalty that may change the approach here with 1:29 showing on the clock. The hold backed them up to their own 30 and then the pass over the middle fell incomplete.

 

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Jason 'Scooter' Williams scrambles for 16 yards on 3rd & 26 to give Salem more room to punt it away. On the return, Jahlen Batty almost has a 79-yard house call... but a block in the back penalty takes away a good chunk of yardage (so unofficially a 42-yard run back by my count).

Kempsville has it in Salem territory, though, at the 47. Tyron Kellam makes a 10-yard reception from C.J. Spence, who's back in at QB for this series. Spence uses his legs to keep the play alive and finds James Releford, V, wide open at the Salem 15, where he dives to make the catch.

Shortly thereafter, it's Spence again scrambling to gain 12 and put the Chiefs at the Salem 3 with 8 seconds to go in the first half. He was wise to get out of bounds. Salem is going to burn a time-out to try and keep Kempsville off the board here before intermission.

 

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Two yucky snaps to end the half send Kempsville backwards on one play and unable to get the field goal try off on the other.

So we go to intermission tied.

 

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Let's go through some numbers at the break...

Stats at the Half:

Kempsville 14:
C.J. Spence - 4-6 for 80Yds. 1-0 TD/Int. ratio 5Car. 28Yds.
Robert Hughes Jr. - 11Car. 50Yds.
Tyron Kellam - 1Car. 40Yds. TD; 2Rec. 14Yds.
James Releford, V - 3Rec. 58Yds.
Elijah McDaniel - 3 Tackles

Chiefs - 28 plays for 202 total yards (6-10 for 88 yards; 18 rushes for 114 yards, 1 lost fumble); 2 penalties for 13 yards; 1 turnover


Salem-VB 14:
Jason 'Scooter' Williams - 2-6 for 27Yds; 5Car. 77Yds. 2 Td's
Willie Moore - 8Car. 78Yds.
Jack Strother - 1Rec. 15Yds.
Fabian Wells - 1Rec. 12Yds.
Markus McCoy - 5 Tackles

Sun Devils - 21 plays for 186 total yards (2-6 for 27 yards passing; 15 rushes for 159 yards); 2 penalties for 20 yards; 0 turnovers

 

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Cameron Parrett recovers an onside kick for Kempsville to begin the second half. Oh, that tricky Darryl Cherry. Puts the Chiefs at the 50 to begin the 3rd quarter.

However, a few plays later, it's Dewon Hayes, transfer from Kellam, making a crucial INT on 3rd down for the Salem defense.

Salem starts at the Kempsville 40 now with 10:10 to go in the 3rd period.

 

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On 4th down, the Kempsville defense makes a big play as Drew Ashbury and Elijah McDaniel combine to sack Jason 'Scooter' Williams. That's the fourth time tonight the Kempsville defense has sacked Williams. Salem's protection has broken down at some inopportune times for them.

Now the Chiefs have their second possession of this 2nd half from their own 44 with 7:30 showing on the third quarter clock.

 

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Salem's defense gives Kempsville a taste of their own medicine with Talon 'Bam Bam' Evans and Ilan Rivera combining to sack C.J. Spence. His pass in the flat to Jahlen Batty only gains a couple. The Chiefs also had a penalty on this series and it's not looking good for the offense after such a terrific stand by the defense moments ago.

Spence is then sacked on 3rd & 26 by Markus McCoy, the All-Region linebacker from Salem who is really starting to put his fingerprints all over this game.

Punting time now for Kempsville as we approach 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

 

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Astonishingly, Salem has 9 players on the field - instead of the customary 11 - on a punt return. Even more amazing, they gain 4 yards on the return to begin this latest series from the Kempsville 46 with 5:10 showing on the clock.

Willie Moore runs to the left and hurdles a defender to pick up 5 yards. That brings him to 99 yards on 12 attempts. Salem then inserts Isaiah Lovgren and he's dropped for a loss of 2 by Elijah McDaniel. A pass to the near sideline intended for Dewon Hayes falls incomplete. Nonetheless, Salem leaves the offense on the field for 4th & 7 from the Chiefs 43 with 3:32 to go in this third period.

Junior DB Maceo Batrnwell dives and almost intercepts Williams. Regardless, it's a turnover on downs, giving Kempsville the ball at their own 43 with 3:27 to go in the third period. Not the best night throwing the ball - just 2 for 8 with 27 yards - for Williams, who has done more damage on the run.

 

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After mishandling the snap and losing a yard on first down, Robert Hughes Jr. redeems himself with runs of +8, +3 and +5 to move the chains and get a good drive going for Kempsville.

Salem hurts itself with a pass interference penalty that pushes the Chiefs to the Sun Devils 27 with under a minute left in the third quarter.

Coach Daryl Cherry has to love the situaton where they can play ball-control and get behind that o-line - consisting of junior LT Lahai Massaquoi, senior LG Makai Bacon (the leader up front), senior C Ilan Rivera, junior RG Drew Ashbury and sophomore RT Noah Odle. He wants to play power football between the tackles right now.

 

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The Chiefs are up to 114 yards on the ground. Their methodical approach is beginning to pay off here in the second half.

 

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Kempsville appeared to be trying a screen pass and that time QB Josh Hawley should've just eaten it and taken a sack. Instead, he tried to get rid of it and Isaiah Lovgren was there waiting to make the play of the night to this point.

Salem has momentum on its side suddenly and the Chiefs try to recover with the ball at their own 21 with 11:33 to play.

 

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Salem's defense rises to the occasion and they tackle Robert Hughes Jr. well in the congested areas, getting multiple hats to him with Markus McCoy, Jack Strother, Jeremiah Brown and Talon Evans.

It forces Kempsville to punt it away. The Chiefs attempted to overpower with a double tight end formation on the first down, but Salem did a good job of being disciplined in the box area.

Salem gets the ball back and they have a chance to put this game away now, leading by seven and at their own 47 with 9:12 to play.

 

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Willie Moore is going to work for the Salem offense with a 7-yard gain, then he shows superb vision on a 29-yard run where he quickly gets to the next level of the defense and cutback ability on his 17-yard scoring dash.

Salem now leads by multiple possessions with 8:04 to play. Likely now out of danger are the Sun Devils, ranked No. 10 in our Class 5 Top Ten.

 

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So the two newcomers for Salem - Moore from Grassfield and Lovgren from Landstown - make an immediate impact in a tight ballgame to open things up for the Sun Devils.

On a night where they didn't throw the football well and had a couple defensive breakdowns, Coach Mark Hall and his staff have to be pleased with their opportunistic play to get takeaways and battle through adversity. They will get a bye week before visiting Landstown, who is having a tough night against Cox after trailing by 4 TD's earlier at last check.

 

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Faced with a 4th & 9 from the Salem 47-yard line, the Kempsville offense stays on the field with 5:32 to play and behind two scores. It looks like Salem will get off the field as LB Markus McCoy drives C.J. Spence towards the sideline, out of bounds, forcing the ball loose and well behind the line of scrimmage. However, a face-mask, 15-yard penalty on the Sun Devils on the play, extends the possession for the host Chiefs.

Kempsville now has it at the Salem 32 with 5:13 to go. Do they have any magic left?

 

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Now the Sun Devils can just run the clock out with a few more first downs, into Kempsville territory. Willie Moore is gaining steam and might be able to make that happen.

 

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More to come... stay tuned!

 

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Final Stats:

Salem-VB 28: (1-0 Overall)
Willie Moore - 20Car. 177Yds. TD (12Car. 99Yds. TD in 2nd Half)
Jason 'Scooter' Williams - 2-8 for 27Yds; 7Car. 59Yds. 2 TD's
Isaiah Lovgren - 3Car. 2Yds; 69-yard INT TD return, Fumble Recovery
Jack Strother - 1Rec. 15Yds; 4 Tackles (3 Solo)
Fabian Wells - 1Rec. 12Yds.
Markus McCoy - 8 Tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks, Forced Fumble
Talon 'Bam Bam' Evans - 6 Tackles, 2 TFL, Sack
Dewon Hayes - 2 Solo Tackles, INT

Sun Devils - 41 plays for 250 total yards (2-8 for 27 yards passing; 33 rushes for 223 yards); 5 penalties for 60 yards; 0 turnovers


Kempsville 14: (0-1 Overall)
Christopher 'C.J.' Spence - 7-13 for 106Yds. 1-1 TD/Int. ratio; 9Car. 16Yds.
Robert Hughes Jr. - 22Car. 73Yds.
Tyron Kellam - 3Car. 43Yds. TD; 3Rec. 14Yds.
James Releford, V - 3Rec. 58Yds. TD
Jaylen Hatton - 1Rec. 24Yds.
Sawyer Whitmore - 1Rec. 16Yds.
Antonio Moore - 6 Tackles (3 Solo)
Elijah McDaniel - 5 Tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 Sack

Chiefs - 53 plays for 242 total yards (9-18 for 114 yards passing, 2 INT's; 35 rushes for 128 yards, 1 lost fumble); 5 penalties for 34 yards; 3 turnovers