The final score was the usual for L.C. Bird: Skyhawks 42, Warriors 6, but the Matoaca Warriors had came to play. It was gargantuan task before them, but when Matoaca took the field against the defending three-time state champions they looked anything but intimidated. On their first drive against the Skyhawks the Warriors marched 65 yards in just 7 plays as they took advantage of Justin Ford completing 4 of 5 passes and 2 Bird penalties to score only the second touchdown the Skyhawks' first defense has allowed all season, a 12 yard pass to Anthony Warner. A missed kick made it 6-0 in favor of Matoaca and the Skyhawks trailed for the first time all season.
The score would hold for a couple of "drives" as the Warriors got a three and out on Bird's first possession (with the help of a holding penalty), but Matoaca could go nowhere on their own possession and had to punt from deep in their own territory following a Rayshard Ashby sack of Ford. Bird took over on Matoaca's 38 and J.B. Wright put together back to back 19 yard runs to get Bird on the board. Shane Albin's PAT made the score 7-6 with 3:58 to go and Bird would never relinquish the lead. The Skyhawks trailed for 4 minutes and 48 seconds of game time.
Neither team accomplished much on offense for most of the rest of the first half, but Matoaca looked a little more effective, but always took over deep in their own territory and after a first down or two (often by penalty) would have to punt. Bird, meanwhile had three more three-and-out possessions. Matoaca finally seemed to have something going as they drove into Bird territory, but another Rayshard Ashby sack stopped their drive at Bird's 41. Still, a nice punt pinned Bird down at their own 10 yard line with only 3 minutes left in the half. This is when the game changed for good.
The Skyhawks covered the 90 yards in just 5 plays. The first 4 plays covered 55 yards on runs by Wright, and the score came on a 35 yard pass from Jalen Elliot to Waymond Pate. It was the only pass play to go for positive yards on the night, but it came at the right time as it allowed Bird to take a 14-6 lead in to the locker room.
The second half was all Bird as the Skyhawks out gained the Warriors 220 to -6 after the break. Wright added 2 more touchdown runs and Shedrick McCall added 2 of his own and Bird scored on 4 of their 5 possessions before the running clock was implemented. Matoaca never crossed midfield on offense in the second half. Bird was +4 in turnovers on the night and sacked Ford six times as they took control. 2014 State Defensive Player of the Year, Rayshard Ashby led the Skyhawks with 10 tackles and 4 assists. Four of his tackles were sacks and he had 2 other tackles for loss.
The 11-0 Skyhawks have now won 16 straight games (and 53 of their last 55) and 15 straight playoff games. Matoaca is still seeking their first playoff win since 2006. This game marks the 17th season in a row in which Bird has reached the round of 16 in the playoffs, the longest such streak in the VHSL. Next week Bird will face Hermitage (11-0) in the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
L.C. Bird 7 7 14 14 - 42
Matoaca 6 0 0 0 - 6
Mat Warner 12 yard pass from Ford (kick failed)
Bird Wright 19 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird Pate 35 yard pass from Elliott (Albin kick)
Bird Wright 10 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird McCall 19 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird Wright 1 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird McCall 27 yard run (Albin kick)
LCB Matoaca
1st Downs 18 9
Rushing 45-346 32-22
Passing 2-7-31 9-18-65
Total Yards 377 87
Penalties 12-130 10-89
Fumbles Lost 0 2
Interceptions 0 2
Time 22:09 25:51
Rushing: LCB: JB Wright 28-211 (3 TD), McCall 8-92 (2), Elliott 2-20, Banks 1-11, Pope 3-10, Wright 3-2, D. Wright 3-2; Mat Harrison 15-36, Driskill 4-13, Williams 3-6, Cohen 1- -3, Ford 9- -30.
Passing: LCB: Elliott 2-6-31-(1 TD)-(0 Int), Banks 0-1-0-0-0; Mat: Ford 9-18-65-1-2
Receiving: LCB: Pate 2-31-(1 TD); Mat: Warner 3-34-1, Whitfield 3-16, Dowe 3-15
The score would hold for a couple of "drives" as the Warriors got a three and out on Bird's first possession (with the help of a holding penalty), but Matoaca could go nowhere on their own possession and had to punt from deep in their own territory following a Rayshard Ashby sack of Ford. Bird took over on Matoaca's 38 and J.B. Wright put together back to back 19 yard runs to get Bird on the board. Shane Albin's PAT made the score 7-6 with 3:58 to go and Bird would never relinquish the lead. The Skyhawks trailed for 4 minutes and 48 seconds of game time.
Neither team accomplished much on offense for most of the rest of the first half, but Matoaca looked a little more effective, but always took over deep in their own territory and after a first down or two (often by penalty) would have to punt. Bird, meanwhile had three more three-and-out possessions. Matoaca finally seemed to have something going as they drove into Bird territory, but another Rayshard Ashby sack stopped their drive at Bird's 41. Still, a nice punt pinned Bird down at their own 10 yard line with only 3 minutes left in the half. This is when the game changed for good.
The Skyhawks covered the 90 yards in just 5 plays. The first 4 plays covered 55 yards on runs by Wright, and the score came on a 35 yard pass from Jalen Elliot to Waymond Pate. It was the only pass play to go for positive yards on the night, but it came at the right time as it allowed Bird to take a 14-6 lead in to the locker room.
The second half was all Bird as the Skyhawks out gained the Warriors 220 to -6 after the break. Wright added 2 more touchdown runs and Shedrick McCall added 2 of his own and Bird scored on 4 of their 5 possessions before the running clock was implemented. Matoaca never crossed midfield on offense in the second half. Bird was +4 in turnovers on the night and sacked Ford six times as they took control. 2014 State Defensive Player of the Year, Rayshard Ashby led the Skyhawks with 10 tackles and 4 assists. Four of his tackles were sacks and he had 2 other tackles for loss.
The 11-0 Skyhawks have now won 16 straight games (and 53 of their last 55) and 15 straight playoff games. Matoaca is still seeking their first playoff win since 2006. This game marks the 17th season in a row in which Bird has reached the round of 16 in the playoffs, the longest such streak in the VHSL. Next week Bird will face Hermitage (11-0) in the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
L.C. Bird 7 7 14 14 - 42
Matoaca 6 0 0 0 - 6
Mat Warner 12 yard pass from Ford (kick failed)
Bird Wright 19 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird Pate 35 yard pass from Elliott (Albin kick)
Bird Wright 10 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird McCall 19 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird Wright 1 yard run (Albin kick)
Bird McCall 27 yard run (Albin kick)
LCB Matoaca
1st Downs 18 9
Rushing 45-346 32-22
Passing 2-7-31 9-18-65
Total Yards 377 87
Penalties 12-130 10-89
Fumbles Lost 0 2
Interceptions 0 2
Time 22:09 25:51
Rushing: LCB: JB Wright 28-211 (3 TD), McCall 8-92 (2), Elliott 2-20, Banks 1-11, Pope 3-10, Wright 3-2, D. Wright 3-2; Mat Harrison 15-36, Driskill 4-13, Williams 3-6, Cohen 1- -3, Ford 9- -30.
Passing: LCB: Elliott 2-6-31-(1 TD)-(0 Int), Banks 0-1-0-0-0; Mat: Ford 9-18-65-1-2
Receiving: LCB: Pate 2-31-(1 TD); Mat: Warner 3-34-1, Whitfield 3-16, Dowe 3-15
