The pool of nominations might be thinner due to less teams playing but that doesn't mean there is a shortage of outstanding performances. In the second week of playoffs, players stepped up and rose to the occasion. Here are those that made a difference in their games.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Run Gamers
Stephen Mines, LC Bird
In one half of play, Mines did his part to help the Skyhawks to victory Friday night over top-seeded Hermitage. It was not revealed until after the game that Mines was banged up with an ankle injury but nonetheless he had a solid first half with 110 yards on just 14 carries. Furthermore he scored twice which in a game decided by two points is huge. Mines hasn't had a year like his predecessors but he has gotten it done week after week for the Skyhawks.
Johntae Wilson, Hermitage
On Friday night Johntae Wilson scored just once as opposed to his multiple touchdown games. Despite his one touchdown Wilson was effective running the ball with 24 carries and 146 yards on the ground. Wilson has continuously come through for the Panthers all season be and he will need to continue having big games if the Panthers are to go further in the playoffs.
JB Wright, LC Bird
Wright had a second half the Skyhawks had to have if they were to win. In Friday night's win over the Springers, Wright carried the ball 25 times for 147 yards. He scored only once but his runs came at the right time when the Skyhawks needed a boost and they certainly got that and more.
Passing Gamers
Daniel Rose, Manchester
The Lancers season came to an end Friday night and so did Daniel Rose's role as quarterback at Manchester. In his final game as a Lancer, Rose had nearly 200 yards passing (185). He also threw four touchdowns albeit two came in the fourth quarter. Rose has had two strong seasons at quarterback for the Lancers and even in defeat he never stopped trying.
Juwan Carter, Highland Springs
If not for an interception at the worst time, Carter and the Springers would be preparing for Hermitage but that is not the case. That said, the Springers QB had another strong performance even in defeat. The sophomore quarterback who has given the Springers a lot to look forward to over the next few seasons threw two touchdowns and completed half of his passes, all while amassing 183 yards in the air. Carter was a big reason why the Springers were still in the game to the very end.
Syour Fludd, Monacan
The Monacan Chiefs have now won two games in the playoffs for the first time since the 1985 season. Syour Fludd has been key to their run in the playoffs and Friday night he did it again completing 67% of his passes; 8 of 12 for 171 yards as the Chiefs shutout the Phoebus Phantoms. Of the five touchdowns scored, Fludd threw just one touchdown but the Freshman QB has a bright future as the signal caller for the Chiefs and his and their season is not done yet.
Receiving Gamers
Chris Thompson, Petersburg
The Crimson Wave have won two games in the playoffs, a feat not accomplished for Petersburg since their 1979 state championship season. Thompson was instrumental in the Crimson Wave victory Saturday as he caught four passes from Gemonta Jackson for a total of 104 yards. That comes to about 26 yards per catch and of those four receptions, two went for touchdowns. Thompson has more games like this, the Wave's season won't end anytime soon.
Mason Kosco, Manchester
Kosco has been a benefactor of quarterback Daniel Rose's passing game all season and that was again the case on Friday night. Kosco caught four passes from his QB for 82 yards… That's roughly 20 yards per reception and two of those four receptions he took to the endzone. The Lancers were down but they were not out and the Lancers and Kosco kept fighting till the end.
Nygel Lee, James River
The James River Rapids season to remember lives on and while the defense has had a lot to do with that, the offense was just as effective on Friday night in their second win in one season over Cosby. Lee found himself on the receiving end of two passes Friday night for a total of 65 yards. Keep in mind, the two passes he caught, both went for touchdowns. Not a bad night of work by any stretch.
Defensive Gamers
Austin Wallace, James River
Austin Wallace was part of a big defensive game from the Rapids Friday night in their second victory over Cosby this season. Wallace had 15 total tackles on the Titans Friday night as he was a menace for the Titans offense. Wallace even forced a fumble as the defense just continues to get it done for the Rapids. Wallace and the Rapids live for another day and as long as they play defense like they have been, they could be playing longer.
Matt Duignam, James River
Matt had as big a night as his teammate Austin Wallace on Friday night. The two were a menace for the Titans and Matt had one more forced fumble than his teammate but less tackles. Matt came away Friday night with 13 total tackles on the Titans as Matt continues to have a strong season on defense as this is not his first time on the list. The Rapids and Matt continue to play solid defense and that is why they are still playing.
Dallas Carter-Taylor, Hermitage
The Panthers defense is no laughing matter and neither is Dallas Carter-Taylor. Dallas is no stranger to this list this season and he made big plays in a big game just as he has done for much of the season. On Friday night in the Panthers win over previously undefeated Manchester Dallas intercepted the Lancers QB twice taking one 30 yards for a touchdown. This kind of defense and big plays on defense are one of the many reasons why the Panthers are now 12-0.
Special Teams Gamers
Glaster Ellis, Highland Springs
Ellis had one of two field goals within the Richmond Region this weekend in the playoffs. Ellis' field goal came with the Springers down 14-7. While the Springers came up short in the end, without his 25-yard field goal, the Springers would not have been in position to even mount a furious comeback with less than a minute to go.
Keaton Riley, LC Bird
As big as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver are from a scoring standpoint, sometimes your game winners come in the kicking game and that was certainly the case Friday night. Riley booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Skyhawks a lead late in the fourth quarter and while it did take an interception to seal the deal, the Skyhawks would not win without that field goal.
All-Puprose Gamers
Gemonta Jackson, Petersburg
There might not have been any bigger performance turned in this week in the playoffs from a Richmond Region player than by that of Jackson. On Saturday he came through in three areas of the game. Gemonta was 7 of 7 passing for 176 yards while throwing two touchdowns. Furthermore on offense he was carried the ball 10 times for 148 yards and one touchdown for a total of three offensive touchdowns for the Crimson Wave QB. On defense, he found the endzone as well with a 35-yard interception return to the endzone while also coming up with three tackles. Gemonta is committed to ODU and they will be getting one whale of a player.
Rashad Robinson, Hermitage
Robinson had his biggest game of the season in a big win over Manchester Friday night. Albeit, he missed much of the season due to injury, Robinson had a big game when the Panthers needed it the most. On Friday night Robinson amassed 203 yards of offense and four touchdowns total. Robinson was a menace on the ground scoring three times while rushing for 114 yards on 21 carries. Robinson also was quite productive with the passing game completing 11 of his 17 passes for 89 yards and just one touchdown. If Robinson has a game like this on Friday night, the Panthers could find themselves in the state semifinals.
Quintreil Chung, James River
Chung and the Rapids just keep winning and while the defense has been a big story, Chung is turning out to be a big part of the run as well. On Friday night, in their second win over Cosby this season, Chung amassed nearly 250 yards of offense(242). Chung who started out the season running the ball as he did last season continued to do so even at the quarterback position with 136 yards on the ground and one touchdown on 26 carries. Now Chung is at the quarterback position and he's shown he can play that position just as well with 106 yards in the air on six completed passes and scored two touchdowns doing so. Chung has become a regular on this list over the last two years and when the run for the Rapids is over, he will be missed come next season.
EXTRA POINTS
If you feel there is a player worthy of the Richmond Gamers, please nominate them via e-mail, CRF4Dan@aol.com or tweeting me @CRF4Dan on twitter. You may also nominate on VirginiaPreps.com of course. This season I have had the pleasure of some coaches sending me e-mails with nominations for some of their guys. I welcome this; if you are a coach, please feel free to do so. I can only go by the information provided to me and that comes from the site itself, the local newspapers and the games I attend. If you have players you feel deserve it, please send their stats to me by Monday.
This post was edited on 11/25 7:49 PM by CRF4Dan
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Run Gamers
Stephen Mines, LC Bird
In one half of play, Mines did his part to help the Skyhawks to victory Friday night over top-seeded Hermitage. It was not revealed until after the game that Mines was banged up with an ankle injury but nonetheless he had a solid first half with 110 yards on just 14 carries. Furthermore he scored twice which in a game decided by two points is huge. Mines hasn't had a year like his predecessors but he has gotten it done week after week for the Skyhawks.
Johntae Wilson, Hermitage
On Friday night Johntae Wilson scored just once as opposed to his multiple touchdown games. Despite his one touchdown Wilson was effective running the ball with 24 carries and 146 yards on the ground. Wilson has continuously come through for the Panthers all season be and he will need to continue having big games if the Panthers are to go further in the playoffs.
JB Wright, LC Bird
Wright had a second half the Skyhawks had to have if they were to win. In Friday night's win over the Springers, Wright carried the ball 25 times for 147 yards. He scored only once but his runs came at the right time when the Skyhawks needed a boost and they certainly got that and more.
Passing Gamers
Daniel Rose, Manchester
The Lancers season came to an end Friday night and so did Daniel Rose's role as quarterback at Manchester. In his final game as a Lancer, Rose had nearly 200 yards passing (185). He also threw four touchdowns albeit two came in the fourth quarter. Rose has had two strong seasons at quarterback for the Lancers and even in defeat he never stopped trying.
Juwan Carter, Highland Springs
If not for an interception at the worst time, Carter and the Springers would be preparing for Hermitage but that is not the case. That said, the Springers QB had another strong performance even in defeat. The sophomore quarterback who has given the Springers a lot to look forward to over the next few seasons threw two touchdowns and completed half of his passes, all while amassing 183 yards in the air. Carter was a big reason why the Springers were still in the game to the very end.
Syour Fludd, Monacan
The Monacan Chiefs have now won two games in the playoffs for the first time since the 1985 season. Syour Fludd has been key to their run in the playoffs and Friday night he did it again completing 67% of his passes; 8 of 12 for 171 yards as the Chiefs shutout the Phoebus Phantoms. Of the five touchdowns scored, Fludd threw just one touchdown but the Freshman QB has a bright future as the signal caller for the Chiefs and his and their season is not done yet.
Receiving Gamers
Chris Thompson, Petersburg
The Crimson Wave have won two games in the playoffs, a feat not accomplished for Petersburg since their 1979 state championship season. Thompson was instrumental in the Crimson Wave victory Saturday as he caught four passes from Gemonta Jackson for a total of 104 yards. That comes to about 26 yards per catch and of those four receptions, two went for touchdowns. Thompson has more games like this, the Wave's season won't end anytime soon.
Mason Kosco, Manchester
Kosco has been a benefactor of quarterback Daniel Rose's passing game all season and that was again the case on Friday night. Kosco caught four passes from his QB for 82 yards… That's roughly 20 yards per reception and two of those four receptions he took to the endzone. The Lancers were down but they were not out and the Lancers and Kosco kept fighting till the end.
Nygel Lee, James River
The James River Rapids season to remember lives on and while the defense has had a lot to do with that, the offense was just as effective on Friday night in their second win in one season over Cosby. Lee found himself on the receiving end of two passes Friday night for a total of 65 yards. Keep in mind, the two passes he caught, both went for touchdowns. Not a bad night of work by any stretch.
Defensive Gamers
Austin Wallace, James River
Austin Wallace was part of a big defensive game from the Rapids Friday night in their second victory over Cosby this season. Wallace had 15 total tackles on the Titans Friday night as he was a menace for the Titans offense. Wallace even forced a fumble as the defense just continues to get it done for the Rapids. Wallace and the Rapids live for another day and as long as they play defense like they have been, they could be playing longer.
Matt Duignam, James River
Matt had as big a night as his teammate Austin Wallace on Friday night. The two were a menace for the Titans and Matt had one more forced fumble than his teammate but less tackles. Matt came away Friday night with 13 total tackles on the Titans as Matt continues to have a strong season on defense as this is not his first time on the list. The Rapids and Matt continue to play solid defense and that is why they are still playing.
Dallas Carter-Taylor, Hermitage
The Panthers defense is no laughing matter and neither is Dallas Carter-Taylor. Dallas is no stranger to this list this season and he made big plays in a big game just as he has done for much of the season. On Friday night in the Panthers win over previously undefeated Manchester Dallas intercepted the Lancers QB twice taking one 30 yards for a touchdown. This kind of defense and big plays on defense are one of the many reasons why the Panthers are now 12-0.
Special Teams Gamers
Glaster Ellis, Highland Springs
Ellis had one of two field goals within the Richmond Region this weekend in the playoffs. Ellis' field goal came with the Springers down 14-7. While the Springers came up short in the end, without his 25-yard field goal, the Springers would not have been in position to even mount a furious comeback with less than a minute to go.
Keaton Riley, LC Bird
As big as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver are from a scoring standpoint, sometimes your game winners come in the kicking game and that was certainly the case Friday night. Riley booted a 32-yard field goal to give the Skyhawks a lead late in the fourth quarter and while it did take an interception to seal the deal, the Skyhawks would not win without that field goal.
All-Puprose Gamers
Gemonta Jackson, Petersburg
There might not have been any bigger performance turned in this week in the playoffs from a Richmond Region player than by that of Jackson. On Saturday he came through in three areas of the game. Gemonta was 7 of 7 passing for 176 yards while throwing two touchdowns. Furthermore on offense he was carried the ball 10 times for 148 yards and one touchdown for a total of three offensive touchdowns for the Crimson Wave QB. On defense, he found the endzone as well with a 35-yard interception return to the endzone while also coming up with three tackles. Gemonta is committed to ODU and they will be getting one whale of a player.
Rashad Robinson, Hermitage
Robinson had his biggest game of the season in a big win over Manchester Friday night. Albeit, he missed much of the season due to injury, Robinson had a big game when the Panthers needed it the most. On Friday night Robinson amassed 203 yards of offense and four touchdowns total. Robinson was a menace on the ground scoring three times while rushing for 114 yards on 21 carries. Robinson also was quite productive with the passing game completing 11 of his 17 passes for 89 yards and just one touchdown. If Robinson has a game like this on Friday night, the Panthers could find themselves in the state semifinals.
Quintreil Chung, James River
Chung and the Rapids just keep winning and while the defense has been a big story, Chung is turning out to be a big part of the run as well. On Friday night, in their second win over Cosby this season, Chung amassed nearly 250 yards of offense(242). Chung who started out the season running the ball as he did last season continued to do so even at the quarterback position with 136 yards on the ground and one touchdown on 26 carries. Now Chung is at the quarterback position and he's shown he can play that position just as well with 106 yards in the air on six completed passes and scored two touchdowns doing so. Chung has become a regular on this list over the last two years and when the run for the Rapids is over, he will be missed come next season.
EXTRA POINTS
If you feel there is a player worthy of the Richmond Gamers, please nominate them via e-mail, CRF4Dan@aol.com or tweeting me @CRF4Dan on twitter. You may also nominate on VirginiaPreps.com of course. This season I have had the pleasure of some coaches sending me e-mails with nominations for some of their guys. I welcome this; if you are a coach, please feel free to do so. I can only go by the information provided to me and that comes from the site itself, the local newspapers and the games I attend. If you have players you feel deserve it, please send their stats to me by Monday.
This post was edited on 11/25 7:49 PM by CRF4Dan
