New Kent's Davion Barnes gave a preview of what to expect this season from him and the Trojans.
CHARLES CITY- For the first time in 15 years New Kent and Charles City met up to play in a benefit game. Charles City was bringing one of their most talented squads in years. New Kent was starting a new era destined to turn things around and make the Trojans a force again. There were moments in this one that clearly supported each claim.
Charles City burst onto the field with smoke and loud noise but it was the Trojans who provided the true bang! RJ Morris would take the opening kick-off right up the middle and go untouched to open the game with a 78-yard touchdown making it 6-0 at the 11:48 mark of the 1st.. On the next possession, the Panthers will have their drive stall and snap over the punters head would luckily go for a safety instead of six. 8-0 New Kent. Next on a jet sweep, the Trojan’s Bryce St Clair would go 40-yards by getting to the edge and finding no one home making it 14-0 with 9:11 left in first.
Charles City would not get down on themselves as they became the team that everyone wanted to see as junior running back Cecil Tyler and Troy Crawley would get the Panthers inside the 5-yard line of the Trojans. Unfortunately, the balloon of optimism would deflate as the Panthers would fumble and New Kent would return it to the 45 by St Clair. Davion Barnes would introduce himself to the Panther defense by taking a draw up the middle and out racing everyone to make it 21-0 Trojans with 2:21 left in the first.
Coach Steward Greene would not like his guys bow out like that as he got his team pumped for the 2nd quarter. The Panthers marched down the field but this time cashed in as Tyler would give the fans something to cheer about making it 21-7. Passing is an adventure for the Trojans and it cost them as Kyle Jones corralled a estranged pass and returned it deep into New Kent territory. Crawley would then show what he could do by cutting up the Trojan defense on his way for a 20-yard run to make it 21-13.
The Panthers had took all the momentum as they had held the offense of New Kent and was driving to tie the game when Crawley’s pass up the middle would be intercepted by Ryan Curle. Barnes would make the Panthers pay as again he would pull away from the defense for a 72-yard run to make it 28-13 going into the half.
The Panther's Mason Jefferson finds daylightand uses his track speed.
In the second half, Charles City would give the rock to Mason Jefferson and he would deliver big time racing 50 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-21. The crowd was excited and this game was everything it was built up to be……at this point.
It would take less than a minute for Barnes to show what makes him sensational as he would again turn a play into a sprinting event in which he won easily going 51 yards this time making it 35-21. And before the quarter was over, Barnes would go in again for a short 12 yard scamper to make it 42-21 to end the third.
Barnes finished with 17 carries for 275 yards and 4 touchdowns on the day to lead all rushers. For the Panthers, Tyler had 25 touches for 205 yards and Jefferson had 10 carries for 104 on the day.
Expect big things from junior back Cecil Tyler for Charles City this season.
In the 4th , the Trojan’s back ups shined bright Hunter Pitts would break off touchdown runs both of 32 yards while Evan Branch would get a beautiful pick six in which he returned 62 yards for a score.
Charles City will get to correct the defensive breakdowns next week before hosting their season opener with Cumberland. New Kent kicks off their season opener Thursday night of the Labor day weekend with Colonial Heights at home.
New Kent 21 7 14 20 - 62
Charles City 0 13 8 6 - 27
NK- Morris 78 yard run (kick blocked)
NK- Safety (snap back of the endzone)
NK- St. Clair 40 yard run (kick failed)
NK- Barnes 55 yard run (Julian Thacker kick)
CC- Tyler 3 yard run
CC- Crawley 20 yard run (Craig Jones kick)
NK- Barnes 72 yard run (Thacker kick)
CC- Jefferson 50 yard run (Tyler run)
NK- Barnes 51 yard run (Thacker kick)
NK- Barnes 12 yard run (Thacker kick)
NK- Pitts 32 yard run (Thacker kick)
NK- Branch 62 yard int return (Thacker kick)
CC- Tyler 6 yard run (kick failed)
NK- Pitts 32 yard run (kick failed)
