Essex celebrates a hard fought victory and a trip to the state playoffs!
TAPPAHANNOCK- Essex came into this contest looking to advance to the state playoffs again while Sussex Central came in with thoughts of an upset on their mind. The Trojans didn’t give any indication that this was possible early as they wanted to make sure they didn’t have a slow start. And they wouldn’t.
Essex defense made a stand at midfield forcing a Sussex Central punt. The Trojan offense came out in the spread and took advantage from the start. Malik Martin was about to shed a few tackles and would help Essex move into scoring position. Martin would cash in from 3 yards out to make it 7-0 Trojans with 5:25 to play in the 1st.
Sussex Central would get the ball back and get to midfield again before a bad exchange between quarterback Malik Delk and Trevon Hatch would cause a fumble in which the Trojans would recover. It wouldn’t take long before Martin would go in from 15 yards out to make it 14-0 with 26 seconds left in the quarter.
A bad exchange pops into the air and right into the hands of Adarious Jones of Essex.
After shutting down the Tigers offense again, Rasaun Monroe would get in on the action turning a hitch into a 40-yard touchdown. At this point many spectators thought this was going to be a rout from that point on. It had seemed the Trojans had overwhelmed the Tigers. As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friend.”
The Tigers would respond immediately when Delk would find his favorite target Amari Hill for a 62-yard touchdown. Delk would get the conversion and the score was 21-8 with 8:13 left before halftime. Essex offense would get stopped on 4th down and Sussex Central would respond again as Hill would jump and make the grab over two Trojan defenders and would score on the 56-yard hook up. 21-14 with 2:58 seconds left in the 2nd quarter.
Essex would dodge a bullet as Tesahn Nelson’s attempted hitch pass was almost taken back for six but Wyshawn Wynn could not corral the pass. It would be halftime with the lead 21-14 Trojans. The crowd seemed very surprised of the run the Tigers made but expected for Coach John Fulks and staff to fix the breakdowns.
The Trojan offense would come out and fumble in their on territory as an exchange for Nelson didn’t quite occur and the Tigers would recover. And at the 8:06 mark in the 3rd, An’Tae Motton would go in from 7-yards out to make it 21-20. Sussex Central would missed the lead taking conversion and would get no closer.
An'Tae Motton made the best of his touches on the day as Sussex battled back.
In less than two minutes, Martin would break loose go 46-yards down the home sideline to make it 28-20 Trojans with 6:34 left in the 3rd. Essex would give a handoff to David Clarke on their last score at the beginning of the 4th.
Malik Martin showed why he is the top back in Region A with 3 touchdowns and an interception on the day.
Sussex would answer back driving into scoring position and they looked to have a touchdown pass from Delk to Pha’shard Harris but it would be called back for an illegal man downfield. The Tigers couldn’t make it more interesting as the drives would all end on interceptions with the last one was a diving pick by Martin to seal the game.
Essex (11-1) will host Galax (9-4) next Saturday at a site yet to be determined. The Maroon Tide features running back Charles Harris who has 2,913 yards rushing this season and needs 400 to break Thomas Jones’ VHSL single season record.
Sussex Central ends their season with a 9-3 mark but Coach Curtis Jefferson will return a solid group that should be meeting these same Trojans again next season.
SUSSEX CENTRAL 0 14 6 0 - 20
ESSEX 14 7 7 7 - 35
E- Martin 3 yard run (Leo Ayala kick)
E- Martin 15 yard run (Ayala kick)
E- Monroe 40 yard pass from Nelson (Ayala kick)
SC- Hill 62 yard pass from Delk (Delk run)
SC- Hill 56 yard pass from Delk (run failed)
SC- Motton 7 yard run (run failed)
E- Martin 46 yard run (Ayala kick)
E- Clarke 1 yard run (Ayala kick)
