Live Updates - Phoebus (6-0) at Hampton (6-0)

[matthew328826]

Follow LIVE Updates from Darling Stadium as it's the matchup in the Great American Rivalry Series with the Phoebus Phantoms (6-0) taking on the Hampton Crabbers (6-0), two of the most storied programs in VHSL Football history.

Hampton won last year's matchup 44-0. The past four meetings saw the winner take it by double-figures.

With a misty, cloudy day and muddy field, we might get ourselves a much-closer, low-scoring affair.

Follow Updates here and via my Twitter feed @ hatfieldsports ....

 

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It's Hampton ball to start at their own 35.

Couple of big hits by Phoebus LB/S Darrell Bryant, one of which saw him jar the ball loose. Crabbers maintain possession and now face 3rd & 5 at own 40.

Nifty scramble by the diminutive, yet tough QB for the Crabbers - Cam Stevenson - good enough for a gain of 7 near midfield.

On 2nd & 11, it appears a Hampton pass is broken up by Damion Charity, DB for Phoebus. However, a personal foul is called and that puts the Crabbers at the Phoebus 39.

 

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Cam Stevenson is showing his slippery escape-ability on the run, evading a pair of Phantoms defenders on 2nd & 7 to gain 10 down to the Phoebus 16-yard line.

A Phoebus defender is down and being checked on -- appears to be the guy that missed one of the first tackles and then eventually got him, DE Juan Purdie (sack leader for Phoebus).

This is the 10th play of this game-opening drive for Hampton coming up with 6:13 to go in the first period.

 

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A 10-yard holding penalty pushed Hampton back on their 2-point try. The Crabbers almost always go for 2 this year, including when they beat Heritage in OT earlier this season. We'll see if that one point comes back to bite them at all.

Another note - Juan Purdie was being helped off again for the second time this series. Phoebus hopes it isn't anything serious because they need him to help set the edge against Stevenson's mobility.

 

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Phoebus begins its first possession at their own 32 with 4:51 left in the opening period.

Wisely, the Phantoms have come out pounding the rock between the tackles with backs Daniel Wright and Daequan Fleming, leaning on their veteran center Tim Young to pave the way.

Six straight runs - including a pair of 3rd & short conversions by Wright and QB Chris Daniels - has the Phantoms inside the Hampton 45-yard line.

 

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Phoebus is 2 for 2 on third down conversions, but this one will be much harder to run for it than the previous two. Gotta think they go to the air here and target #4, Barry Hargraves, who shined in recent wins over Lake Taylor and Bethel.

 

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Pass of 6 yards by QB Chris Daniels to Daequan Fleming for Phoebus brings up 4th & 6 from the Hampton 40. Credit the solid stick to Crabbers LB Juanya Majette, a three-year starter in the program. The Phantoms will punt, and if the had any thought of a fake, that was probably eliminated by the illegal substitution penalty that backed them up five more yards.

Punts rolls out of bounds around the 16-yard line, where Hampton will start with 10:57 left in the 2nd period.

 

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Hampton goes 3 & out on its second series and the Crabbers dodge near disaster when Cam Stevenson fumbled a snap and lost about 5 yards.

Both Barry Hargraves and Bryce Bailey are waiting for the punt. Each can be dangerous with daylight.

 

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Second series for Phoebus yields excellent field position for the Phantoms, beginning at the 31-yard line of Hampton with 8:09 to go in the second period. After gain of 2 on the ground, the Phantoms bobble the snap on a pass play, lose a yard and then it's incomplete on third down. Hampton is sticking in its usual Cover 3 look defensively, preventing a deep shot over top.

Out of a time-out, it appears Jeremy Blunt's Phantoms will go for it on 4th & 9 from the 30.

 

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Pass intended for Barry Hargraves is ruled, even though Hargraves contested that he caught it and it didn't hit the ground.

Hampton takes over at their own 30.

 

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Quietly now, Stevenson has 65 yards rushing on nine carries and a touchdown against a vaunted Phoebus defense permitting just 6 points per game on the season to date.

That Hampton offensive line with Tyrique Coleman, Shedrick Kemp-Copeland, Julian Martin, Amir Fowlkes and Isaac Barrow has held up well against a tough Phoebus d-line.

 

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The Hampton drive stalls, largely because of a holding penalty that put them in long yardage situation to move the chains. So Hampton will punt it away on 4th & 25 from their own 33 with 1:45 to go. Both teams are out of time-outs, so the Phantoms will have to act quickly and likely hit a big pass play - or two - in order to get points on the board before the break.

Hampton leads it 6-0 with 1:40 until the half. Phoebus begins at its own 47.

 

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Some numbers at the break...

For Hampton:
Cam Stevenson - 12Car. 63Yds. TD; 0-1 passing
Elijah Highsmith - 8Car. 15Yds.
Olando Robinson - 5 Tackles, 2TFL
Daequan Battle - 5 Tackles (3 Solo)

Crabbers - 21 plays for 78 yards (20Car. 78Yds; 0-1 passing); 4 penalties for 39 yards; 0 turnovers

For Hampton:
Daequan Fleming - 6Car. 12Yds; 1Rec. 5Yds.
Daniel Wright - 3Car. 12Yds.
Chris Daniels - 1-4 for 5Yds.
Dominic Edwards - 6 Tackles, 1.5TFL
Darrell Bryant - 5 Tackles (3 Solo)

Phantoms - 16 plays for 34 yards (12Car. 29Yds; 1-4 for 5 yards passing); 3 penalties for 15 yards; 0 turnovers

 

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Phoebus begins the second half at their own 26 and do what they should be doing more of and that's feed Daniel Wright the ball.

Wright rushes for 8 and 7 yards, then mysteriously they go away from him and gain just 4 yards the next two carries. That forces them to throw on 3rd & 6 from their own 46. Pass is incomplete with Justin Gantt applying pressure on the passer, Chris Daniels.

Hampton nearly called for a penalty of having 12 men on the field, but the Crabbers burn a time-out to avoid the infraction. Coach Mike Smith - the man with more wins and state titles than anyone else in VHSL history - was not pleased with whoever the 12th guy was, giving him an earful while his ballcap was turned backwards.

Phoebus punts it away.

 

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Hampton after the punt return by Stevenson goes 3 and out. The Crabbers pass on 3rd & 9 from their own 47 is dropped and it would've been a good gain of 15 or 20 yards.

The field conditions, timing a bit off and the Phoebus secondary having something to do with Hampton being just 0 for 2 through the air thus far. Keep in mind that Hampton had four straight 100-yard-plus passing performances entering this contest.

 

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A potential game-changer for Phoebus as a high snap on a punt for Hampton results in the Crabbers punt being blocked. Josiah Silver blocked the punt for Phoebus

The Phantoms have excellent field position, at the Hampton 31 with 7:21 left in the third quarter, and badly need to capitalize on this opportunity.

 

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Phoebus can't break off a long run, end up being forced to throw in part because of a false start penalty pushing them back and both pass attempts fall incomplete. That included a 4th & 8 from the 19, where Daniels slipped as he threw the ball.

 

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A great job by Edwards to have the presence of mind after reading his keys and making the pick to run down the left sideline and score. However, the PAT is no good.

So we may be here for 5 or 6 overtimes the way these two offenses have been stuck in neutral by the opposing defenses as well as this muddy, sloppy field they are playing on here at Darling Stadium.

 

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Cam Stevenson breaks contain for another solid gain. Hampton facing a 3rd & 1 at the Phoebus 39 as we tick two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Stevenson surges forward for a gain of 15 on the QB draw. Then it's Hampton's first completion of the afternoon - a quick screen by Stevenson to Javon Rodriguez for 3 yards to the Phoebus 21. 2nd & 7 coming.

 

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On 2nd & 7, Hampton LT Tyrique Coleman is rolled up on the minimal gain by Stevenson. He's being helped off by a couple of assistant coaches for the Crabbers. Appears to be his right knee or right ankle. He's also a key cog on the d-line for Head Coach Mike Smith and his longtime line coach Danny Mitchell.

3rd & 6 now for Hampton at the Phoebus 20-yard line. This to me is two-down territory for Hampton without a doubt considering they don't have much of a kicking game.

 

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The Phoebus defense stuffs Stevenson on a QB draw on the 2-point try. Can the Phoebus offense put together its first scoring drive of the day to tie or possibly even win the game? They'll need to in order to keep Hampton from pushing the all-time series to 33-17 in their favor.

 

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Ahdyim Bagley with a key sack for the Hampton defense on 3rd down. Phoebus goes 3 and out on offense.

Leading 12-6 with 5:27 to play, Hampton gets the ball back at their own 45-yard line. A drive here could essentially end the game and push Hampton to 7-0.

 

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Leading by six with 5:27 to go near midfield, mysteriously Hampton comes out and calls 3 straight pass plays. The first one results in a sack by Phoebus LB/S Darrell Bryant. The next two fall incomplete. Only 1:10 goes off the clock as Phoebus receives a Crabbers punt.

Phoebus would've had it close to their own 45-yard line, but a block in the back penalty will push them back further with 4:06 remaining in regulation.

 

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Phoebus begins at its own 34 with 4:06 to play. Daniel Wright gains 2, Daequan Fleming 2 more and then on 3rd & 6 the pass is nearly picked off by Hampton LB Juanya 'Juice' Majette.

With 2:36 remaining, Phoebus will burn one of its three remaining time-outs. So that pretty much tells us Phoebus will go for it here.

Interestingly enough - WR Barry Hargraves has yet to touch the ball. Could they look his way here?

 

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A 1-yard run after Daniels' scramble brings up 2nd & 9 from their own 47 for Phoebus, which uses its second time-out with 1:31 left to play.

 

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Chris Daniels scrambles for 6 to keep the drive alive and then Hampton called for their first penalty of the second half - a 15-yard personal foul.

 

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Phoebus pass is incomplete but for the third time today, Hampton has 12 men on the field and they are flagged on this one. That's half the distance to the goal with 33 seconds left.

Phantoms at Hampton 11 with 33 seconds to go. Wow.

 

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Hampton uses its second time-out. Interesting decision for Jeremy Blunt here because he's out of time-outs. Expecting a sneak by Daniels or for Wright to get it.

 

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Phoebus going for 2... here it comes...

 

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'

Unreal drive led by sophomore QB Chris Daniels - who was picked off 3 times earlier this season against Woodside - to lead this improbable 66-yard scoring drive with 4:06 left to play when they took over... used his legs to get them there and convert some key 3rd and 4th downs. Then made the potential winning pass play on a 2-point conversion.

 

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Hampton begins at own 34 with 17 seconds left. Stevenson loses a yard. Crabbers burn final time-out with 11 seconds to go.

 

[matthew328826]

Game of the Year in Tidewater to date, certainly the craziest finish so far. More to come later.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Thanks Matt. Exciting game, exciting call by you.

 

[matthew328826]

Final Stats:

Phoebus 14:
Daniel Wright - 10Car. 39Yds. TD
Daequan Fleming - 13Car. 30Yds; 1Rec. 5Yds.
Chris Daniels - 2-10 for 15Yds; 8Car. 21Yds.
Darrell Bryant - 1Rec. 10Yds; 9 Tackles (5 Solo), Sack, Forced Fumble
Dominic Edwards - 7 Tackles (4 Solo), 1.5TFL
Kareem Wilson - 5 Tackles
Dequandre Edwards - 4 Tackles; 22-yard INT TD return
Barry Hargraves - INT

Phantoms - 42 plays for 107 total yards (32Car. 92Yds; 2-10 for 15 pass yards); 7 penalties for 60 yards; 0 turnovers


Hampton 12:
Cam Stevenson - 20Car. 103Yds. 2TD's; 1-7 for 3Yds. 0-2TD/Int. ratio
Elijah Highsmith - 13Car. 27Yds.
Javon Rodriguez - 1Rec. 3Yds.
Daequan Battle - 8 Tackles (4 Solo)
Olando Robinson - 7 Tackles (3 Solo), 2TFL
Juanya Majette - 6 Tackles (4 Solo)

Crabbers - 41 plays for 135 total yards (34Car. 132Yds; 1-7 for 3 pass yards, 2INT's); 6 penalties for 65 yards; 2 turnovers

 

[matthew328826]

Thanks Matt. Exciting game, exciting call by you.

Yes - it really was an exciting finish. Good, hard-hitting defensive battle. Not the cleanest played or prettiest - field conditions made for some sloppy moments at times - but finally a down to the wire ending in this highly anticipated rivalry after some years of lopsided results.