Excitement filled the air and the
playing fields on Friday night when the postseason began for our
Piedmont area teams. There were several spectacular individual
performances on some of our teams this week. Some of those were big
contributions to team victories while others weren't enough to carry
the load against the ramped up competition. Let's take a look at some
of the top performances from players on our area teams.
Quarterbacks
Elijah Burress, Mountain View
The
senior hoped this years' playoff contest against Briar Woods would be
different than the game last fall but despite a solid performance on
Friday night, the outcome was the same. Burress threw for 122 yards
against the Falcons defense on 14 of 22 passing with one touchdown.
The signal caller also covered 98 yards on 12 rushing attempts and
added a touchdown in the loss.
Aaron Walters, Liberty-Bealeton
The
Eagles continued to roll in the running game as they steam rolled
Pulaski County on Friday night. Walters thrived in the ground game as
he has much of the season behind his big offensive line gaining 111
rushing yards on six carries and a touchdown in the victory.
Sean McDonald, Clarke County
The
Eagles continued their historic season on Friday night with a 44-0
dominating victory over Nandua. Clarke claimed victory even with their
head coaches absence due to illness. McDonald delivered another solid
performance with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns to give him 24
rushing touchdowns on the season. In addition, the quarterback tossed
for another score, going 2 for 5 for 25 yards through the air.
Tavian Brown, R.E. Lee-Staunton
The
Fighting Leemen went home on Friday night with their season at its end
but Brown delivered the fight in a solid offensive performance that
nearly equated to victory. Brown rushed for a career-high 197 yards on
21 carries and scored three second half touchdowns on the ground but a
late touchdown by East Rockingham spoiled the efforts for the Lee.
Running Backs
Kyree Koonce, Monticello
The
Mustangs senior broke the single game rushing record for his school as
he repeatedly broke through the Tunstall defense for long gains.
Koonce finished the night with 350 rushing yards on 21 attempts and
scored four first half touchdowns to help his team advance to the
second round. The back hauled in one reception for 20 yards in
addition to his spectacular performance on the ground.
Oliver Herndon, Western Albemarle
In
a game that was expected to be much closer than it turned out to be,
the Warriors ran past Lord Botetourt literally on their way to the
second round of postseason action. The junior running back delivered a
career high 205 yards on the ground for his team and a touchdown score
to help his team to victory over the Cavaliers.
Malachai Harrison, North Stafford
After
his teams three week absence from the playing field, the sophomore
sensation appeared to not have missed a beat against Falls Church. In
fact, his four touchdown, 182 yard performance on the ground resembled
the performances of the Wolverines rusher early in the season.
Harrison will have to continue to be a factor for North as they
prepare to face even stiffer competition moving ahead.
Juh-Kwquan McCauley, Wilson Memorial
The
Green Hornets appear primed to make plenty of noise once again this
postseason and the the team got off to a dynamic start against Prince
Edward County on Friday night. McCauley rushed for 186 yards and three
touchdowns in Wilson's explosive offensive attack that combined with
another solid defensive effort concluded in victory for the team.
Savant Swift, Wilson Memorial
The Green Hornets appear primed to
make plenty of noise once again this postseason and the the team got
off to a dynamic start against Prince Edward County on Friday night.
Swift rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in Wilson's
explosive offensive attack that combined with another solid defensive
effort concluded in victory for the team.
Steffen Thornton, Waynesboro
The
Little Giants had an enormous victory on Friday becoming the first 16
seed to defeat a top seed in the new playoff format. While there were
contributions all over, Thornton factored into the game with 120
rushing yards on 15 carries and scored on a 40 yard pass reception
prior to halftime to help the team build an insurmountable lead against
Hidden Valley.
Bo Fields, Massaponax
The
Panthers remained unbeaten with a thrashing of a Brooke Point team that
they had narrowly defeated a week before. Fields scored two rushing
touchdowns in the third quarter that allowed Massaponax to pull away
and keep the game from being close. The rusher delivered 106 forceful
yards on 21 attempts for the team.
Justin Pollard, Eastern View
With
their star running back absence for over two quarters of action due to
injury, Pollard delivered in the rushing attack for the Cyclones with
128 yards on 15 carries and touchdown score that helped Eastern View
complete the victory against William Fleming and continue their season.
Kendrick Kube, Eastern View
The
Cyclones running back scored three touchdowns and put up 86 yards off
of nine carries before leaving his teams' contest with William Fleming
due to a mild concussion. The dynamic rusher has put forth several
strong performances this season and the pace he set against the
Colonels showed signs that this would be another. Eastern View will
have to hope that Kube isn't out for any extended period of time.
Vincent Eura, James Monroe
The
Yellow Jackets cruised to victory in their first round contest with
Warren County. Monroe was efficient on offense with the run and the
ground game and the combination appears to make the team lethal as they
look to make another deep postseason run. Eura carried the ball just
seven times but scored on three of those attempts and his efforts
accumulated 105 rushing yards in the process.
Logan Allen, Powhatan
The
senior left his high school playing career behind with his best rushing
performance ever as an Indian. Allen toted the rock 33 times for 318
yards, nearly a school record, and scored four touchdowns on the
ground. Allen added another score on a 56 yard pass reception but the
effort wasn't enough to keep Powhatan from ending their season a bit
premature.
Orlando Jones, Riverbend
Jones
put forth a valiant effort as the Bears appeared to be on their way to
the second round before allowing Thomas Dale to force extra time with
the Knights eventually winning in the third overtime. The running back
scored three touchdowns and piled up 128 yards on 23 carries. Jones
also caught two passes for 53 yards in the game.
Robert
Edmonds
joined the Virginia Preps staff midway through 2013 and is in his
second year with the site. He provides insight on player profiles
and recruiting
news for players from around the state as well as in-season game and
team
reports. In 2014, Robert is covering the Piedmont area during the
regular and postseasons. He has been contributing sports coverage
in the
newspaper
industry since 2006 and also currently does correspondence work with
the Daily
Progress in Charlottesville. Follow him on twitter@bigrob2523
and send feedback and suggestions to him directly at bigrob2523@gmail.com.
playing fields on Friday night when the postseason began for our
Piedmont area teams. There were several spectacular individual
performances on some of our teams this week. Some of those were big
contributions to team victories while others weren't enough to carry
the load against the ramped up competition. Let's take a look at some
of the top performances from players on our area teams.
Quarterbacks
Elijah Burress, Mountain View
The
senior hoped this years' playoff contest against Briar Woods would be
different than the game last fall but despite a solid performance on
Friday night, the outcome was the same. Burress threw for 122 yards
against the Falcons defense on 14 of 22 passing with one touchdown.
The signal caller also covered 98 yards on 12 rushing attempts and
added a touchdown in the loss.
Aaron Walters, Liberty-Bealeton
The
Eagles continued to roll in the running game as they steam rolled
Pulaski County on Friday night. Walters thrived in the ground game as
he has much of the season behind his big offensive line gaining 111
rushing yards on six carries and a touchdown in the victory.
Sean McDonald, Clarke County
The
Eagles continued their historic season on Friday night with a 44-0
dominating victory over Nandua. Clarke claimed victory even with their
head coaches absence due to illness. McDonald delivered another solid
performance with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns to give him 24
rushing touchdowns on the season. In addition, the quarterback tossed
for another score, going 2 for 5 for 25 yards through the air.
Tavian Brown, R.E. Lee-Staunton
The
Fighting Leemen went home on Friday night with their season at its end
but Brown delivered the fight in a solid offensive performance that
nearly equated to victory. Brown rushed for a career-high 197 yards on
21 carries and scored three second half touchdowns on the ground but a
late touchdown by East Rockingham spoiled the efforts for the Lee.
Running Backs
Kyree Koonce, Monticello
The
Mustangs senior broke the single game rushing record for his school as
he repeatedly broke through the Tunstall defense for long gains.
Koonce finished the night with 350 rushing yards on 21 attempts and
scored four first half touchdowns to help his team advance to the
second round. The back hauled in one reception for 20 yards in
addition to his spectacular performance on the ground.
Oliver Herndon, Western Albemarle
In
a game that was expected to be much closer than it turned out to be,
the Warriors ran past Lord Botetourt literally on their way to the
second round of postseason action. The junior running back delivered a
career high 205 yards on the ground for his team and a touchdown score
to help his team to victory over the Cavaliers.
Malachai Harrison, North Stafford
After
his teams three week absence from the playing field, the sophomore
sensation appeared to not have missed a beat against Falls Church. In
fact, his four touchdown, 182 yard performance on the ground resembled
the performances of the Wolverines rusher early in the season.
Harrison will have to continue to be a factor for North as they
prepare to face even stiffer competition moving ahead.
Juh-Kwquan McCauley, Wilson Memorial
The
Green Hornets appear primed to make plenty of noise once again this
postseason and the the team got off to a dynamic start against Prince
Edward County on Friday night. McCauley rushed for 186 yards and three
touchdowns in Wilson's explosive offensive attack that combined with
another solid defensive effort concluded in victory for the team.
Savant Swift, Wilson Memorial
The Green Hornets appear primed to
make plenty of noise once again this postseason and the the team got
off to a dynamic start against Prince Edward County on Friday night.
Swift rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in Wilson's
explosive offensive attack that combined with another solid defensive
effort concluded in victory for the team.
Steffen Thornton, Waynesboro
The
Little Giants had an enormous victory on Friday becoming the first 16
seed to defeat a top seed in the new playoff format. While there were
contributions all over, Thornton factored into the game with 120
rushing yards on 15 carries and scored on a 40 yard pass reception
prior to halftime to help the team build an insurmountable lead against
Hidden Valley.
Bo Fields, Massaponax
The
Panthers remained unbeaten with a thrashing of a Brooke Point team that
they had narrowly defeated a week before. Fields scored two rushing
touchdowns in the third quarter that allowed Massaponax to pull away
and keep the game from being close. The rusher delivered 106 forceful
yards on 21 attempts for the team.
Justin Pollard, Eastern View
With
their star running back absence for over two quarters of action due to
injury, Pollard delivered in the rushing attack for the Cyclones with
128 yards on 15 carries and touchdown score that helped Eastern View
complete the victory against William Fleming and continue their season.
Kendrick Kube, Eastern View
The
Cyclones running back scored three touchdowns and put up 86 yards off
of nine carries before leaving his teams' contest with William Fleming
due to a mild concussion. The dynamic rusher has put forth several
strong performances this season and the pace he set against the
Colonels showed signs that this would be another. Eastern View will
have to hope that Kube isn't out for any extended period of time.
Vincent Eura, James Monroe
The
Yellow Jackets cruised to victory in their first round contest with
Warren County. Monroe was efficient on offense with the run and the
ground game and the combination appears to make the team lethal as they
look to make another deep postseason run. Eura carried the ball just
seven times but scored on three of those attempts and his efforts
accumulated 105 rushing yards in the process.
Logan Allen, Powhatan
The
senior left his high school playing career behind with his best rushing
performance ever as an Indian. Allen toted the rock 33 times for 318
yards, nearly a school record, and scored four touchdowns on the
ground. Allen added another score on a 56 yard pass reception but the
effort wasn't enough to keep Powhatan from ending their season a bit
premature.
Orlando Jones, Riverbend
Jones
put forth a valiant effort as the Bears appeared to be on their way to
the second round before allowing Thomas Dale to force extra time with
the Knights eventually winning in the third overtime. The running back
scored three touchdowns and piled up 128 yards on 23 carries. Jones
also caught two passes for 53 yards in the game.
Robert
Edmonds
joined the Virginia Preps staff midway through 2013 and is in his
second year with the site. He provides insight on player profiles
and recruiting
news for players from around the state as well as in-season game and
team
reports. In 2014, Robert is covering the Piedmont area during the
regular and postseasons. He has been contributing sports coverage
in the
newspaper
industry since 2006 and also currently does correspondence work with
the Daily
Progress in Charlottesville. Follow him on twitter@bigrob2523
and send feedback and suggestions to him directly at bigrob2523@gmail.com.
